The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel increased for the second consecutive week, this time climbing 2.9 cents to $2.861 for the week ending Monday, March 1. The price, which had fallen 12.2 cents in the five weeks prior to last week’s 7.6-cent climb, is 77.4 cents higher than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
All regions tracked by DOE saw price increases. The biggest increase, 4.6 cents, was found in the Central Atlantic, where prices climbed to $3.013. The smallest increase, 0.7 cent, was found in New England, where prices climbed to $3.018, the nation’s most expensive diesel by region. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $2.819, was found on the Gulf Coast, where prices climbed 2.6 cents.
California, which DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a price increase of 4.3 cents to $3.023; that price is 87.9 cents higher than the same week last year.