The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel continued its seesaw up-and-down ride of recent weeks, declining 3.2 cents to $2.924 for the week ending Monday, July 5. This week’s price is 33 cents higher than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which delayed its weekly roundup one day because of the Fourth of July holiday.
All regions tracked by the DOE saw price declines. The biggest decrease, 4 cents, was found in the Midwest, where prices fell to $2.89. The smallest decrease, 1.1 cent, was found in New England, where prices fell to $3.033.
The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $3.077, was found on the West Coast, where prices fell 2.2 cents. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $2.866, was found on the Gulf Coast, where prices fell 2.7 cents.
California, which the DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a 1.5-cent price decrease to $3.132; that price is 34.5 cents higher than the same week last year.
The DOE’s latest monthly short-term energy outlook projects that diesel will average $2.98 this year and $3.13 in 2011; last year, diesel averaged $2.46 a gallon.
