The national average retail price of a gallon of diesel climbed for the first time after four consecutive weeks of falling prices, increasing 2.0 cents to $2.919 for the week ending Monday, July 26. The price, which had fallen 6.2 cents since June 21 prior to this week’s increase, is 39.1 cents higher than the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
All regions tracked by the DOE saw increases except for New England, where prices fell 0.1 cent to $3.014. Elsewhere, the biggest increase, 2.5 cents, was found in the Midwest, where prices climbed to $2.891. The smallest increase, 0.8 cent, was found in the Central Atlantic, where prices climbed to $3.020.
The nation’s most expensive diesel by region, $3.06, was found on the West Coast, where prices climbed 1.8 cents. The nation’s least expensive diesel by region, $2.875, was found on the Gulf Coast, where prices climbed 1.6 cents.
California, which the DOE tracks separately for its weekly update, saw a 0.9-cent price increase to $3.125; that price is 40.5 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.
