Diesel rises above $2.50 for first time in more than a year

Dec. 20, 2016

Another bump in diesel has pushed fuel prices to the highest level in 14 months, now running almost a two bits higher than this time last year.

Kevin Jones

Another bump in diesel has pushed fuel prices to the highest level in 14 months, now running almost a two bits higher than this time last year.

The average U.S. retail pump price for diesel climbed 3.4 cents in the Dec. 19 report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), to $2.527 per gallon. That’s 24.3 cents higher than this time last year and the highest price since the Oct. 19, 2015 report.

Prices were up in every region, including about 4 cents on the East Coast and coming in at $2.587 in New England, $2.667 in the Central Atlantic, and $2.47 in the Lower Atlantic.

The Midwest posted a gain of 3.3 cents ($2.479), and diesel was up 4.8 cents in the Rocky Mountains to $2.495.

On the West Coast, less California, diesel registered a 1.5-cent increase to $2.705. In California, the price rose 1.7 cents to $2.854, the highest price in the lower 48 states.

The Gulf Coast was up 3.9 cents to $2.41—still the lowest price for a gallon of diesel in the country.

The national average price for gasoline rose 2.8 cents for the week, to $2.264. That’s 2.4 cents higher than last year.

About the Author

Kevin Jones | Editor

Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.

Working from Beaufort, S.C., Kevin has covered trucking and manufacturing for nearly 20 years. His writing and commentary about the trucking industry and, previously, business and government, has been recognized with numerous state, regional, and national journalism awards.