The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide increased after five straight weeks of decline, rising 2 cents to $2.919 a gallon, according to US Department of Energy information.
The price is still lower than it was at the beginning of the month, when it averaged $2.924 on July 5. Trucking’s main fuel is still 39.1 cents higher per gallon than it was in 2009. During the five-week decline, diesel had fallen 6.2 cents. Diesel previously rose 37.1 cents in the three months from mid-February through mid-May.
All regions except New England reported higher prices. New England dipped 0.1 cent, while the Midwest gained 2.5 cents. The Gulf Coast remained the cheapest region to buy diesel, though prices there climbed 1.6 cents. California diesel rose 0.9 cent to $3.125, the most expensive in the nation.