Stephen Goldstein/TTDiesel fuel, which will average just over $4 a gallon in the current quarter, will decline to a $3.84 average at the pump next year, the Department of Energy said Tuesday.
Gasoline, which will average $3.63 a gallon this year, will drop to a $3.43 average in 2013, DOE said in its monthly short-term energy outlook released Tuesday.
DOE’s forecast for both fuels is in line with last month’s forecast.
The department raised its 2013 crude oil-price outlook slightly, boosting it 9 cents over last month’s forecast to $88.39 a barrel.
The monthly outlook often lags DOE’s weekly price surveys. Its most recent report released Monday showed diesel dropping 3.6 cents to $3.991 and gasoline falling 4.5 cents to $3.349.