Diesel price slips 1.2 cents, still almost 50 cents higher than year ago

Jan. 18, 2017

For the first time in seven weeks, the price of diesel has dropped—albeit not by much.

The average U.S. retail pump price for diesel fell 1.2 cents in the Jan. 16 report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), to $2.585 per gallon. That’s about 47 cents higher than a year ago.

Prices slipped in every region, including 1.2 cents along the East Coast, on average, coming in at $2.675 in New England, $2.804 in the Central Atlantic, and $2.511 in the Lower Atlantic.

The Midwest posted a drop of 0.6 cents ($2.541), and diesel was down 0.3 cents in the Rocky Mountains ($2.538).

On the West Coast, less California, diesel registered a 1.9-cent decrease to $2.755. In California, the price fell 1.6 cents to $2.937, the highest price in the lower 48 states.

Diesel on the Gulf Coast slipped 1.9 cents to $2.429—still the lowest price for a gallon in the country.

The national average price for gasoline was down 3 cents for the week, to $2.358. That’s 44.4 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.