Average Diesel Price Increases 3.2 Cents to $1.591

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he average retail price of diesel fuel rose 3.2 cents per gallon to $1.591, the fourth straight increase, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

Diesel is now at its highest level since March 31. It has risen 8.9 cents over the past four weeks and is 9.9 cents ahead of the same week a year ago.

Commercial trucking's dominant fuel has surged 16.2 cents since the end of the third quarter, meaning a trucker is paying an additional $32.40 on a 200-gallon purchase at retail pumps than at the end of September.

Analyst Trilby Lundberg said that motor fuel prices have been rising because of higher crude oil costs bolstered by strong world demand and increased winter home heating, the Associated Press reported.

DOE also said Monday the average U.S. retail price for regular gasoline rose another 2.7 cents to $1.622 a gallon, the highest price since $1.643 during the week ended Sept. 22.

Gasoline is 14.9 cents ahead of year-ago levels.

DOE's regional breakdown of diesel prices backed up Lundberg's statement, as the East Coast grouping of states and the Midwest each saw increases of 3.8 cents. Meanwhile, the West Coast reported the smallest increase -- 0.7 cent -- to $1.639.

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