The national average price of a gallon of diesel fuel rose for a second straight week, climbing 1.7 cents to $2.96 a gallon, according to US Department of Energy information.
These two weeks of increases have totaled 2.9 cents, after four straight declines amounting to 6 cents. The most recent price was 33.8 cents higher than the same week in 2009.
Three regions surpassed the $3-per-gallon mark: the Central Atlantic ($3.041); Rocky Mountain ($3.037), and West Coast ($3.120). California was more expensive than any other area at $3.150 per gallon, up 0.8 cents from a week earlier and 32.3 cents higher than a year ago.