Both diesel and gas prices increased sharply the week of April 8, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As of Monday, the EIA logged the national average for on-highway diesel fuel prices at $4.061 per gallon, an increase of 6 cents since last week, albeit 3 cents lower than this time last year.
This price increase was echoed across the country, save for the New England sub-region, which saw no change in diesel prices between this week and last. The Central Atlantic sub-region also saw its diesel prices increase by less than a cent. Overall, the East Coast area only experienced a 3-cent rise in diesel prices to $4.118, as did California up to $5.259 per gallon.
On the larger end of the spectrum, the West Coast minus California saw a diesel price spike of 11 cents up to $4.257 per gallon, with the whole West Coast region rising 7 cents to $4.723. Beyond the western area, the Gulf Coast also saw diesel prices increase 9 cents to $3.760.
With these changes, the Gulf Coast is still the cheapest place to buy diesel fuel at $3.760 per gallon and is currently the only region with prices below $4. Meanwhile, California is still the most expensive at $5.259 per gallon.
This week, the AAA motor club logged its diesel price average at $4.044 per gallon, only 2 cents cheaper than the EIA’s reckoning. This is 3 cents higher than last week’s average of $4.018 and 16 cents cheaper than last year’s log of $4.208.
See also: Diesel dips under $4, gasoline slows pump price rise
Gasoline sees over 20-cent increase in some regions
While not as extreme an increase as some individual regions, the nationwide average for regular gasoline prices rose 7 cents from last week to $3.591, according to the EIA. In fact, the only place prices did not increase from the week before was the Lower Atlantic sub-region, which saw gas costs decrease by less than a cent to $3.345.
Prices increased the least in the East Coast region, where gas pump costs increased by less than 1 cent to $3.391 per gallon. The Rocky Mountain area also saw a slight pump price rise of only 2 cents to $3.380 per gallon. Prices on the West Coast, meanwhile, rose by leaps and bounds. The West Coast, including California, saw a price increase of 19 cents to $4.748, while the West Coast without California went up 14 cents to $4.317, and California’s prices alone rose 23 cents to $5.142 per gallon. Even beyond the West Coast, both the Gulf Coast and the Midwest region saw their gas prices rise 9 cents to $3.125 and $3.460 per gallon, respectively.
Despite this, the Gulf Coast is still the cheapest place for gasoline, while California is the most expensive.
This week, the AAA’s record of gas prices is nearly identical to the EIA’s at $3.598 per gallon, which is 6 cents higher than last week and even higher than last year’s average, even if only by less than a cent. According to a press release from the motor club, prices likely rose due to increased tensions abroad.
“Renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure and increasing tension in the Middle East spiked oil prices recently,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And with the cost of oil accounting for roughly 60% of what we pay at the pump, there will likely be some upward pressure on prices.”
