Average Diesel Price Rises Another 0.5 Cent to $1.503

he average price of diesel fuel in the United States increased 0.5 cent to $1.503 per gallon last week, while the average price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 12 cents to a record $1.747, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

This was diesel's seventh increase in the past eight weeks, leaving the price of commercial trucking’s main fuel at the highest level since April 28. The price has increased 8.3 cents since reaching a year-low of $1.42 on June 30.

DOE said the average price of gasoline rose more than double the 5.6 cents reported a week ago, pushing it above the all-time high of $1.728 set on March 17.

Analyst Trilby Lundberg said that temporary refinery shutdowns caused by the massive East Coast/Midwest blackout combined with a break in a major pipeline in Arizona caused the gasoline price to surge, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, the largest regional diesel increase was 2.9 cents in the Rocky Mountain region. The West Coast grouping of states saw its price increase 1.7 cents to $1.707.

Although the Midwest price also increased 0.5 cent, the East Coast’s price was unchanged and the Gulf Coast reported a decline of 0.3 cent.

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