The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel rose for the sixth consecutive week, this time climbing 0.5 cent to $3.127 for the week ending Monday, May 10. This week’s price is 91.1 cents higher than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and is the highest since Oct. 27, 2008, when it was $3.288.
All regions tracked by DOE saw price increases except for the West Coast, where prices fell 1.0 cent to $3.233. The biggest increase, 2.3 cents, was found in New England, where prices climbed to $3.161. The smallest increase, 0.3 cents, was found in the Rocky Mountains, where prices climbed to $3.169.
The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $3.246, was found in the Central Atlantic, where prices climbed 0.8 cent. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $3.087, was found in both the Lower Atlantic and Gulf Coast, where prices climbed 0.8 cent and 0.4 cent, respectively.
California, which DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a price increase of 0.9 cent to $3.269; that price is 93.2 cents higher than the same week last year.
DOE’s latest monthly short-term energy outlook projects that diesel will average $3.05 this year and $3.20 in 2011; last year, diesel averaged $2.46 a gallon.
