Diesel Climbs 0.1 Cent to $2.897; Gasoline Dips a Penny

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he national average price of diesel fuel edged up 0.1 cent to $2.897 a gallon, though the price continued to soar on the West Coast, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

Gasoline, meanwhile, dipped 1 cent to $2.901 a gallon, DOE said following its weekly survey of filling stations.

Despite the relatively flat change from a week ago, diesel is 67 cents higher than the same time last year while gasoline is 72.3 cents higher, according to DOE figures.

That translates to an extra $469 million in costs to the trucking industry for diesel at a burn rate of 700 million gallons a week, and $209 million for gasoline, at a burn rate of 290 million gallons.

On the West Coast, diesel jumped 8.2 cents to $3.18 and the price in Calfornia, which DOE breaks out separately from its five national regions, rose 8.1 cents to $3.244.

The Rocky Mountain diesel average rose 4.2 cents to $3.054, while all other regions receded and were below $3 a gallon, DOE said.

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