Rising diesel prices push Gulf Coast states above $3 per gallon, California close to $4

Not only has the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in the U.S. again risen, but now all regions are reporting prices above $3, according to a federal report issued Monday.

On Monday, May 14, the Energy Information Administration reported the average price per gallon of diesel cost rose 6.8 cents to $3.239. This is the ninth week of consecutive average U.S. price increases.

Until this report, the average cost for a gallon of diesel in Gulf Coast states remained under $3 per gallon.

While the Gulf Coast has broken the $3 barrier, the average price for a gallon of diesel in California is closing in on $4 per gallon.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the EIA for Monday:

• U.S. – $3.239, up 6.8 cents
• East Coast – $3.236, up 5.8 cents
• New England – $3.251, up 3.6 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.38, up 4.4 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.132, up 7.1 cents
• Gulf Coast – $3.012, up 5.7 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.316, up 6.7 cents
• West Coast – $3.731, up 6.9 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.482, up 7.3 cents
• California – $3.929, up 6.6 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail for diesel is up 7.4 cents per gallon at $3.198.

All regions of the U.S. have average price-per-gallon prices for diesel fuel of $3 or higher for the first time since January 2015, according to ProMiles.

The largest increases were found in the Midwest and Lower Atlantic states, where the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel went up 8.4 cents.

ProMiles, the software company that maintains the websites ProMiles.com and TruckMiles.com, offers its own weekly fuel price information. The company’s fuel price data are presented in the same format used by the EIA in the agency’s weekly reports. The prices include a national average as well as regional averages, and comparisons to the previous week and the previous year.

A key difference between the EIA and ProMiles reporting is the type and number of fueling stations the company surveys in order to calculate its averages. While EIA surveys 400 truck stops and convenience stores nationwide, ProMiles uses its direct feed from thousands of truck stops to develop its averages.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the ProMiles.com:

• U.S. – $3.198, up 7.4 cents
• East Coast – $3.262, up 7.1 cents
• New England – $3.225, up 1.5 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.435, up 5.1 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.175, up 8.4 cents
• Midwest – $3.167, up 8.4 cents
• Gulf Coast – $3.052, up 7.4 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.312, up 7.4 cents
• West Coast – $3.659, up 6.7 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.466, up 7.8 cents
• California – $3.936, up 4.1 cents

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.132 for Monday, May 14.

A week ago, the price was $3.079, which is 5.3 cents lower.

A month ago, AAA reported $3 per gallon and a year ago $2.503 per gallon.

The highest recorded average price for diesel was $4.845 per gallon on July 17, 2008, according to AAA.