Diesel and gas prices rise again as summer nears
After weeks of softening diesel and gas prices, the pendulum is swinging the other way. The national average on-highway diesel price rose by 2 cents to $3.567, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on March 25. Gas prices are up 6 cents this week to $3.115.
Here are this week’s diesel price highlights from each region of the U.S.:
- Rocky Mountain: The Rockies saw the most significant increase in diesel prices this week of 4 cents to $3.415.
- Midwest: The flyover states saw the next biggest diesel price increase of 3 cents to $3.491.
- West Coast: Diesel prices rose by 3 cents off the West Coast, bringing the average to $4.229. Without factoring in California, diesel prices rose in the West by 4 cents to $3.754.
- Gulf Coast: Diesel prices off the Gulf rose by 2 cents to $3.265.
- East Coast: The East was the only part of the U.S. to see a drop in diesel prices this week. Prices dropped by 0.4 cents to $3.675.
AAA Motor Club reports that the national diesel price average is $3.584, 2 cents higher than EIA’s calculations. According to AAA, this average is 1 cent lower than last week and 50 cents lower than this time last year.
See also: As time springs forward, diesel and gas prices fall
Gas prices’ downward streak ends
According to EIA, the national gasoline price average rose this week by 6 cents to $3.115. This is 41 cents lower than the average from this time last year.
Here are this week’s gasoline price highlights from each region of the U.S.:
- Midwest: This week, the Midwest saw the biggest rise in gas prices, with prices increasing by 13 cents to $3.020.
- Gulf Coast: The Gulf Coast saw the next biggest gas price rise of 11 cents to $2.740.
- Rocky Mountain: Gas prices in the Rockies increased by 11 cents to $3.043.
- East Coast: The East Coast saw a rise of 1 cent to $2.961.
- West Coast: The only part of the U.S. to see a drop in gas prices this week was the West Coast. Including California, this coast saw a drop of 1 cent to $4.055. Excluding California, gas prices off the coast rose by 0.3 cents to $3.658.
According to AAA, the current national gasoline price average is $3.128, 1.3 cents higher than EIA’s estimate. By AAA’s calculations, gas prices compared to this time last year are down by 41 cents.
AAA reports in a press release that part of this upswing in gas prices is due to refineries switching to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to create.
