U.S. diesel prices rise on average by 2 cents

The average cost for a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide on Monday went up by almost 2 cents compared to a week previous, according to the Energy Information Administration.

On Monday, Aug. 27, the EIA reported the U.S. average price per gallon of diesel cost $3.226.

Average prices went up in every region. Average prices went up more than 2 cents in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions.

The average price per gallon for diesel fuel is 61.1 cents higher than a year ago. The year started with an average U.S. price for diesel on Jan. 1 of $2.973.

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

• U.S. – $3.226, up 1.9 cents
• East Coast – $3.219, up 1.2 cents
• New England – $3.267, up three-fifths of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.385, up a half cent
• Lower Atlantic – $3.094, up 1.8 cents
• Midwest – $3.153, up 2.4 cents
• Gulf Coast – $3.004, up 2.3 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.364, up 1.5 cents
• West Coast – $3.719, up 1.3 cents
• West Coast, less California, $3.433, up 1 cent
• California – $3.945, up 1.6 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel on Monday being half of a cent lower from the week previous.

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.

ProMiles reports mixed changes from the week previous but the average West Coast price for diesel went down 1.9 cents while diesel in California went up 1.6 cents.

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

• U.S. – $3.136, down a half cent
• East Coast – $3.198, up one-tenth of a cent
• New England – $3.266, down two-fifth of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.426, up seven-tenths of a cent
• Lower Atlantic – $3.082, down three-tenths of a cent
• Midwest – $3.097, down a half cent
• Gulf Coast – $2.992, down three-tenths of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $3.366, up a half cent
• West Coast – $3.59, down 1.9 cents
• West Coast less California, $3.401, down 1.6 cents
• California, $3.924, no change.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.143 for Monday, Aug. 27.

A week previous, the price was $3.143.

A month previous, AAA reported $3.153 per gallon and a year ago $2.533 per gallon.

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