The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel declined after climbing for only the second time in six months, falling 1.8 cents to $2.296 for the week ending Monday, Jan. 19. This week’s price is 97.4 cents less than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Prior to last week’s increase, the U.S. average price had fallen $2.473 after hitting a record high of $4.764 on July 14. Since then, the price had fallen 24 of the last 25 weeks, with the only increase happening Sept. 29 when the price climbed one-tenth of a cent.
All regions tracked by DOE except one saw price declines. The only increase by region, 1.4 cents, was found in the Rocky Mountains, where week-over-week prices climbed to $2.249.
The largest decrease by region, 2.5 cents, was found in both the Lower Atlantic ($2.297) and Midwest ($2.264) regions. The smallest decrease by region, 0.2 cent, was found in the Central Atlantic, where week-over-week prices fell to $2.514.
The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $2.613, was found in New England, where week-over-week prices fell 0.8 cent. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $2.227, was found on the Gulf Coast, where week-over-week prices fell 1.7 cents.
California, which DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw an price decline of 1.5 cents to $2.319; that price is $1.041 cheaper than last year. For state-by-state diesel prices, updated daily, click here.
DOE’s weekly diesel price roundup was delayed two days because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the presidential inauguration.
