After a whopping 13.1-cent increase two weeks ago, the national average retail price of a gallon of diesel saw a much more modest climb last week, 0.7 cent, and this week saw an even smaller 0.1-cent hike to $2.229 for the week ending Monday, April 13.
Even though it was the fourth consecutive week of price increases after falling 33 of the previous 35 weeks, this week’s price is $1.830 less than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
All regions tracked by DOE actually saw price decreases except for the Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions. Prices in the Rockies climbed 3.7 cents to $2.25, while prices on the West Coast climbed 2.5 cents to $2.336.
The largest decrease by region, 1.7 cents, was found in the Central Atlantic, where week-over-week prices fell to $2.402. The smallest decrease by region, 0.1 cents, was found in the Lower Atlantic, where week-over-week prices fell to $2.204.
The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $2.420, was found in New England, where week-over-week prices fell 0.9 cents. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $2.175, was found in the Midwest, where week-over-week prices fell 0.3 cents.
California, which DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a price increase of 1.5 cents to $2.35; still, that price is $1.884 cheaper than last year. For state-by-state diesel prices, updated daily, click here.
DOE says in its monthly short-term energy outlook that diesel fuel will average $2.23 a gallon nationally this quarter and rise to $2.31 in the third quarter. DOE projects that diesel will average $2.30 this year, up from the March forecast of $2.19. Next year, the price is projected to rise to an average $2.69, a sharp increase from the $2.51 projected last month. Diesel averaged $3.79 last year, when the record of $4.764 was set last July.
