Average Diesel Price Dips 0.7 Cent to $1.495

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he average retail price for diesel fuel declined by 0.7 cent a gallon to $1.495, the first decrease in four weeks, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

Despite the drop in price of commercial trucking's dominant fuel, diesel is 3.9 cents higher than the corresponding week a year ago.

Diesel had increased 7.3 cents over the three prior weeks, but is still well below the all-time high of $1.771 set in March.

DOE also said Monday the average price for regular unleaded gasoline fell 2.9 cents to $1.542 a gallon, the lowest level in almost three months.

The latest U.S. average was down 12% from a record $1.747 set in late August. About one-third of commercial trucking uses gasoline.

The price of diesel decreased throughout the entire country, according to DOE figures.

The largest decline of 1.1 cents was reported in DOE’s Gulf Coast states. The Gulf’s average price of $1.441 is the lowest in the nation with the exception of the Lower Atlantic portion of the East Coast’s grouping of states.

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