Diesel and gas prices rise ahead of summer travel season
After declines last week, diesel and gas prices surged nationwide this week. The national average on-highway diesel price increased 6 cents to $3.536 according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on May 20. Gas prices rose 5 cents to $3.173.
What are the current diesel prices across the U.S?
Here are this week’s diesel price highlights from each region of the U.S.:
- West Coast: The biggest increase in diesel prices was along the West Coast with a 9-cent jump to $4.296. Without including California, diesel prices rose 9 cents to $3.828.
- Midwest: In the Midwest, diesel prices rose 7 cents to $3.481.
- Gulf Coast: Diesel prices increased 6 cents to $3.201 along the Gulf Coast.
- Rocky Mountain: In the Rockies, diesel prices rose 5 cents to $3.512.
- East Coast: In the East Coast region, diesel prices rose 5 cents to $3.580.
AAA Motor Club’s tracker put the current national diesel price average at $3.545 on May 20. This is 1 cent higher than EIA’s weekly estimate and 35 cents lower than AAA’s figure this time last year.
See also: Diesel and gas prices see slight declines, offering relief ahead of summer travel
What are the current gasoline prices across the U.S.?
The current national average on-highway gasoline price is $3.173, according to EIA, 5 cents higher than last week’s average.
Here are this week’s gasoline price highlights from each region of the U.S.:
- Gulf Coast: The biggest increase in gas prices was along the Gulf Coast, up 9 cents to $2.786.
- West Coast: Gas prices rose 6 cents to $4.287 on the West Coast. Excluding California, gas prices rose 9 cents to $3.846 in those states.
- Midwest: Gas prices rose 5 cents to $3.027 in the Midwest states.
- East Coast: Along the East Coast, gas prices rose 4 cents to $2.990.
- Rocky Mountain: Gas prices dropped 0.6 cents to $3.131 in the Rockies.
According to AAA, the current national gasoline price average is $3.177. This is 0.4 cents higher than EIA’s current estimate and 41 cents lower than this time last year.
In a recent press release, AAA said, “Gas prices are creeping back up just in time for the busy summer driving season. The national average for a gallon of regular is up 4 cents from last week, as the price of crude oil rises and demand goes up. Typically, the seasonal increase in gas prices starts earlier in the spring, but lower crude oil prices so far this year have kept that from happening.”
