Diesel price falls a nickel in second consecutive weekly price drop

The national average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel fell 5.3 cents in the week ended March 23 to $2.864, according to the Department of Energy’s weekly fuel report.

That’s the second consecutive weekly price drop — coming after five weeks of increases — and the 30th in the previous 37 weeks.

The U.S. average also remained $1.124 lower than the same week last year.

All regions in the U.S. also experienced a price drop, led an 8-cent drop in the Central Atlantic and a 7.9-cent drop in the West Coast (less California).

The Central Atlantic subregion still has the country’s most expensive diesel, $3.231, followed by the New England subregion’s $3.20.

The Gulf Coast has the U.S.’ cheapest diesel, $2.715, followed by the Rocky Mountains’ $2.767 and the MIdwest’s $2.768.