U.S. diesel prices continue to rise

The average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in the U.S. has gone up for an eighth week.

On Monday, May 7, the Energy Information Administration reported the average price per gallon of diesel cost rose 1.4 cents to $3.171.

The average cost for a gallon of diesel in Gulf Coast states remained under $3 per gallon. All other regions average higher prices.

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

• U.S. – $3.171, up 1.4 cents
• East Coast – $3.178, up 1.6 cents
• New England – $3.215, up 1.2 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.336, up 1.5 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.061, up 1.9 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.955, up nine-tenths of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $3.249, up 3.4 cents
• West Coast – $3.662, up 2.2 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.409, up 1.5 cents
• California – $3.863, up 2.9 cents.

ProMiles reports that the average U.S. price for a gallon of diesel going up 1.7 cents over the week previous and that prices increased for all regions.

On Monday, the average price across the U.S. was $3.124 per gallon, according to ProMiles. A week before it was $3.107 and two weeks before it was $3.079.

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. – $3.124, up 1.7 cents
• East Coast – $3.191, up 1.1 cents
• New England – $3.21, up 1.9 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.384, up 1.4 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.091, up 1.4 cents
• Midwest – $3.083, up 1.5 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.978, up 1.8 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.238, up 2 cents
• West Coast – $3.592, up 1.8 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.388, up 2.7 cents
• California – $3.895, up 2.3 cents

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.079 for Monday, May 7, which is 1.4 cents higher than a week before.

A month ago, AAA reported $2.973 per gallon and a year ago $2.514 per gallon.

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