Diesel Fuel Price of $1.414 Marks Highest Level in 51 Weeks

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The national average price of diesel rose 1.8 cents a gallon last week to $1.414, its highest point in almost a year, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

The price was the highest since Sept. 24, 2001,when it stood at $1.473. It also marked the fifth increase in as many weeks.

Diesel went from $1.304 in April to $1.275 in June, and then back to $1.304 in August before a steady climb to the current level.

DOE also said the price of gasoline rose 0.6 cent last week to $1.401 per gallon. While the biggest over-the-road trucks use diesel fuel, a portion of smaller commercial trucks run on gasoline.

Across the country, the only area where the diesel prices surveyed by Energy Department failed to show an increase was in California, where the average retail price dropped from $1.620 to $1.618.

The biggest increase, 2.3 cents a gallon, was in New England, where the price on Monday stood at $1.455.

Each week DOE surveys 350 filling stations to come up with a composite price for diesel fuel across the country.

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