The price of diesel fuel rose for the sixth straight week although its increase slowed, gaining 0.2 cent to a national average $3.333 a gallon at the pump, according to US Department of Energy information.
The increase was the sixth time in as many weeks that diesel hit its highest level since October 2008, when it was coming down from record highs of more than $4 that summer.
Trucking’s main fuel is now 45.4 cents higher than the same week in 2010.
Prices gained in all regions by less than a penny except the Midwest, where it dipped 0.1 cent. The largest increase was in the New England area, where the price advanced 2.3 cents. The nation’s most expensive diesel continues to be in California at $3.516.