Average Diesel Price Rises 3.9 Cents to Record $2.092

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he national average retail price for diesel fuel rose 3.9 cents per gallon to $2.092, the fourth straight weekly record, the Department of Energy reported Tuesday.

Diesel has increased 22.3 cents over the past five weeks and 59 cents since the end of 2003. It is 60.9 cents higher than the same week a year earlier, DOE said.

The trucking industry burns an estimated 650 million gallons of diesel each week, meaning Monday's increase translates into nearly $25 million in additional diesel fuel expenses based on retail prices compared with a week ago.

DOE also said Monday the average U.S. retail price for regular gasoline rose 5.5 cents to $1.993 a gallon, the fourth straight weekly jump. Gasoline is 42.5 cents higher than a year earlier.

Trucking uses about 290 million gallons of gasoline each week. Gasoline rose 12.9 cents to $2.327 in California, the highest price in the nation.

DOE said the price of diesel rose 6.7 cents in its Rocky Mountain grouping of states to $2.132.

And the smallest regional rise in diesel was 3.2 cents in California. However, at $2.322, it remained the highest price in the nation.

The cheapest diesel remained in the Gulf Coast at $2.033, despite a 3.3-cent spike, according to DOE figures.

Each week, DOE surveys 350 diesel-filling stations to compile a national snapshot price. DOE's report was delayed until Tuesday this week because of the Columbus Day holiday.