The end of calendar summer is bringing an end to the summer-long decline in diesel prices, with fuel jumping for the second consecutive week.
The average U.S. retail pump price for diesel climbed 3.9 cents in the Aug. 29 report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), to $2.409 per gallon. That’s a fraction of penny higher than the price was June 6 before fuel costs began a nine week decline. Still, diesel’s 32 cents a gallon cheaper than this time last year.
Every region reported rising prices, paced by the West Coast, less California, where diesel jumped 5.7 cents to $2.555. In California the average price rose 1.8 cents to $2.741 per gallon, still the highest price in the contiguous 48 states.
Prices were up all along the East Coast as well, climbing 3.2cents in New England ($2.423), 3.9 cents in the Central Atlantic region ($2.496), and 4.7 cents in the Lower Atlantic ($2.341).
The Rocky Mountain region posted a 4.1 penny increase to $2.476, while the price for diesel rose 4.9 cents in the Midwest, coming in at $2.391.
The Gulf Coast posted a 2 cent rise to $2.269, still the lowest price for a gallon of diesel in the country.
The national average price for gasoline rose 4.4 cents for the week to $2.237.
