The average price at the pump for a gallon of diesel fuel in the U.S. has jumped 2.1 cents to $1.438 in the past week, the Dept. of Energy said.
According to the department's Energy Information Administration, every region but California saw a price increase. California saw the price drop a half a penny over the last week and 3.9 cents in the past two weeks.
Analysts said the price has risen for two reasons: Crude oil prices have remained above the key $30 a barrel level in recent weeks as a series of storms in the Gulf of Mexico and the threat of military action against has Iraq left many industry watchers uneasy.
Gulf Coast drivers had an increase of 2.7 cents to $1.403 while Midwest and Lower Atlantic regions 2.6 cent raises to $1.434 and $1.388 respectively.