Diesel Climbs for Second Week, Rising 2.6 Cents to $2.462

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he average retail prices of diesel and gasoline each rose for a second straight week by 2.6 cents, with diesel climbing to $2.462 and gasoline to $2.211 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

The diesel increase followed last Monday’s 1.1-cent uptick, according to DOE figures.

Prior to the latest increases, diesel had fallen 73.2 cents over the previous six weeks, to $2.425, from its all-time record high price of $3.157 set on Oct. 24.

Gasoline had fallen for nine straight weeks before rising 3.8 cents last Monday from a six-month low of $2.147. It had plummeted 78.1 cents from an October peak of $2.928 set on Oct. 3.

Gasoline reached an all-time record high of $3.069 on Sept. 5 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Diesel prices rose in all five DOE regions. On the West Coast, the price rose 0.5 cent to $2.505 a gallon, the highest regional average price.

In California, which the department breaks out separately, diesel saw a 5.6-cent uptick to $2.521.

The East Coast region’s average price rose 4.1 cents to $2.499. Its sub-regional prices in New England (a 4.9-cent jump to $2.647) and the Central Atlantic states (a 3.2-cent rise to $2.602) were the highest overall prices listed.

Both the Rocky Mountain and Gulf Coast regions rose by less than 1 cent per gallon, with the Rockies rising 0.9 cent to $2.41 and the Gulf states rising 0.6 cent to $2.435.

The Midwest price rose 3.4 cents to $2.443 a gallon.

Each week, DOE surveys 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.