The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide gained a half-cent to $3.127 a gallon, the highest price in more than 18 months, according to US Department of Energy information.
The uptick was the 11th increase in 12 weeks and the highest price since October 27, 2008, when it was at $3.288 in a downward retreat from that year’s record highs.
Diesel’s latest price put diesel 91.1 cents over the same week in 2009. Trucking’s main fuel has risen 37.1 cents since its upward trend began three months ago, pausing only for a 0.7-cent dip the last week in March.
All regions reported small increases except the West Coast, where the average price fell 1 cent to $3.233. The biggest rise was in New England, where the price gained 2.3 cents to $3.161. California advanced 0.9 cent to a national high of $3.269.