The average U.S. price for a gallon of diesel ticked slightly upward to $1.986 for the week ending Feb. 14, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The average price actually was down, however, in every region except the Rocky Mountains, where it went up 4 cents to $2.011, and the West Coast, where it went up 7 cents to 2.190.
On average, the cheapest diesel was found in the Gulf Coast region ($1.915), the most expensive in New England ($2.197).
Heating-oil inventories should be sufficient for the last couple of weeks of cold weather, so demand for heating oil should cease to be a factor in driving up diesel prices this winter, Department of Energy analysts said.
