California Diesel Prices Jump

November 5, 1999 10:00 AM, EST

A 4-cents-per-gallon leap in the price of diesel fuel in California led a nationwide increase of 0.3 cent.

The national average stood at $1.229 on Nov. 1, according to the Energy Information Administration, up from $1.226 the previous week.

Analysts attributed the sharp rise in California to agricultural demand and refinery problems, but they said predictions of a mild winter – contrary to earlier forecasts – led to confusion in the markets that set the price of fuel.

The price of diesel has experienced a wild ride during 1999, falling to a historic low of just over 95 cents a gallon in February, then rising to a high of $1.234 on October 4.

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