Diesel Price Edges Up 0.6 Cent to $2.348 a Gallon

he U.S. retail diesel average price rose 0.6 cent to $2.348 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported Monday following its weekly survey of filling stations.

The uptick follows declines in the previous two weeks, with trucking’s main fuel falling 5 cents last Monday and 1.6 cents two weeks ago.

Monday’s rise marked the 21st in 31 weeks this year in which diesel prices have risen, ranging from a low of $1.934 on Jan. 10 to an all-time record $2.408 a gallon on July 11, according to DOE figures.

Meanwhile, average regular gasoline prices rose 0.2 cent to $2.291 a gallon, DOE reported. Gasoline prices also set an all-time record on July 11, of $2.328.

Trucking's primary fuel is 56.8 cents higher than this time last year, adding almost $380 million in costs to the industry at a weekly burn rate of 665 million gallons.

DOE’s weekly inventory report last Wednesday showed continuing strong distillate inventory levels, which include diesel, but crude oil prices surged Monday to a new record high $62.20 a barrel before receding to close at $61.57. (Click here for related coverage.)

DOE reported that diesel prices fell in its East Coast region while it was unchanged in the Midwest and rose slightly in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions.

Diesel prices jumped 6.4 cents on the West Coast and 7.9 cents in California, which DOE breaks out separately from its regional prices.

The West Coast remained the highest regional average price, at $2.594, while California’s price was the highest overall, leaping to $2.657 a gallon.

ach week DOE surveys 350 filling stations to compile a national snapshot retail price.