The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide slowed its increase after two big gains in the past two weeks, with the price rising half a cent to $3.074 a gallon, according to US Department of Energy information.
The 0.5-cent rise came after increases of 5.4 cents a week ago and 7.6 cents two weeks ago. Diesel is now 85.3 cents higher than the same week in 2009 and has gained 31.8 cents since February 15.
Most regions saw small increases, while three regions—the East Coast, Lower Atlantic, and Midwest—had dips of less than one cent. All regions were above $3 a gallon, from the Lower Atlantic at $3.033 to California at $3.228.