The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide fell for the first time in three weeks, dipping 0.9 cent to $2.951 a gallon, according to US Department of Energy information.
Diesel had risen 2.9 cents in the past two weeks after four declines that totaled 6 cents. Trucking’s main fuel hit a three-month high of $2.991 in early August, the highest level since it topped $3 a gallon in May. Diesel is now 35 cents over the same week in 2009.
Most regions recorded small decreases except for New England, which gained 0.7 cent, and the West Coast, which increased 0.1 cent. The Rocky Mountain area fell 2.3 cents and the Midwest decreased 1.6 cents. The nation’s highest diesel price by region remains California at $3.139; the cheapest is the Gulf Coast at $2.883.