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Apr 7, 2010 10:24 AM

The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide jumped 7.6 cents to $3.015 a gallon—the first time in 17 months it has topped the $3 mark, according to US Department of Energy information.

Trucking’s main fuel had gained 19.8 cents in five straight increases before the prior week’s 0.7-cent drop, and the recent climb matched the first of those five gains: a 7.6-cent increase that occurred Feb 22, 2010.

Diesel was last over $3 a gallon Nov 3, 2008, when it hit $3.088 as it fell from that year’s record high prices. Its all-time high was $4.764 a gallon set July 14, 2008. The recent diesel price leaves it 78.7 cents higher than the same week in 2009.

All regions reported prices above $3 a gallon except the Lower Atlantic, Midwest, and Gulf Coast, which was the least expensive at $2.978.