U.S. fuel prices follow a flat line for the week

Average retail pump prices in the U.S. for diesel and gasoline stayed relatively flat thseanis week, according to data tracked by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) – literally so in the case of diesel, which remained at the same average national price as last week.

Diesel prices dropped in three regions of the country while increasing in six others, yet all balancing out in the end as diesel remained at a national price of $3.814 per gallon, EIA noted – the same as last week but 16.7 cents lower per gallon compared to the same week in 2013.

Diesel stayed flat in California at $4.079 per gallon, while prices increased only in very small increments in six other U.S. regions, jumping the most out on the West Coast by 6/10ths of a penny to $3.979 per gallon, the agency said.

With California included, though, prices on the West Coast increased 4/10ths of a penny to $4.034 per gallon, EIA reported.

Diesel prices fell in three regions this week, the most in New England – dropping 1.1 cent to $3.933 per gallon – followed by the Gulf Coast (down 5/10ths of a penny to $3.715) and the Midwest (down 1/10th of a penny to $3.751).

Gasoline prices also endured a mixed bag of decreases and increases this week, EIA noted, resulting in a 2/10ths of a penny decline in the national retail pump price average in the U.S. $3.457 per gallon.

However, the agency added that’s 13 cents cheaper per gallon compared to the same week in 2013.

Gasoline prices declined in five regions of the U.S., increased in three of them, and remained flat in New England at $3.546 per gallon, EIA said.

The largest drop occurred on the West Coast with California’s prices included; a dip of 2.3 cents to $3.774 per gallon.

The Gulf Coast and Central Atlantic were home to the biggest gasoline price increase for the week at 7/10ths of a penny per gallon (increasing to $3.223 and $3.458 per gallon, respectively) with the Midwest sporting a 6/10ths of a penny increase to $3.438.