Diesel prices continue to fall as gas prices rise

Diesel prices dropped for a second week in a row, while gas prices continued to climb this week. The national average on-highway diesel price dropped 1 cent to $3.80, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on August 4. Gas prices rose 2 cents to $3.14. 

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.:

• Gulf Coast: The biggest drop in diesel prices this week was off the Gulf Coast for 1 cent to $3.442.
• West Coast: Off the West Coast, diesel prices dropped 1 cent to $4.54. Without including California, prices dropped 0.1 cents to $4.188.
• East Coast: Off the East Coast, diesel prices dropped 1 cent to $3.807.
• Midwest: In the Midwest, diesel prices dropped 0.2 cents to $3.792.
• Rocky Mountain: In the Rockies, diesel prices rose 1 cent to $3.793.

According to AAA Motor Club, the current national diesel price average is $3.738. This is 6 cents lower than the EIA’s current estimate and 5 cents lower than this time last year.

See also: Diesel prices see slight relief after month-long spike; gas prices edge up across the U.S.

What are the current gasoline prices across the U.S.?

The current national average on-highway gasoline price is $3.140, according to the EIA, 2 cents higher than last week’s average. 

Here are this week’s gasoline price highlights from each region of the U.S.:

• Midwest: The biggest jump in gas prices this week was in the Midwest for 3 cents to $3.043.
• West Coast: Off the West Coast, gas prices rose 3 cents to $4.023. Without including California, gas prices rose 2 cents to $3.754. 
• East Coast: Off the East Coast, gas prices rose 2 cents to $3.016.
• Rocky Mountain: In the Rockies, gas prices rose 1 cent to $3.137.
• Gulf Coast: Off the Gulf Coast, gas prices dropped 2 cents to $2.731.

According to AAA, the current national gasoline price average is $3.163. This is 2 cents higher than the EIA’s current estimate and 31 cents lower than this time last year. 

According to Matt Muenster, chief economist at Breakthrough, diesel inventories are responsible for keeping diesel prices low. 

“Wholesale diesel prices in the Gulf Coast spot market region fell about 20 cents per gallon from July 18 to 31,” Muenster told FleetOwner. “This was largely driven by Gulf Coast diesel inventories climbing more than 5 million barrels during that time and broad U.S. macroeconomic uncertainty pushing energy prices lower. Diesel inventories have been unseasonably tight this summer, but they increased through the month of July and, therefore, in recent weeks, are meeting seasonal expectations.”

Muenster expects this pattern to continue for the rest of 2025, with increasing crude oil and diesel inventories. This should make total diesel and gas prices fairly comparable to 2024.

“The freight market remains comparable to the 2024 market,” Muenster said. “Truckload tonnage grew momentarily in February because of tariff-induced front-loading but moderated and fell year-over-year in the latest data (May), while intermodal demand was very strong during the first quarter before moderating during the second quarter. We expect the 2025 peak season for freight to be comparable with the 2024 peak season. Diesel will continue to experience price pressure from relatively tight fuel supplies when compared with other refined products; however, domestic demand for diesel will likely be on par with 2024 levels to end summer and enter autumn.”