The national average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel rose 3.5 cents in the most recent week, hitting a U.S. at-pump average of $2.90, according to the Department of Energy’s weekly fuel price report.
Last week’s increase marks the third straight week-to-week rise in the U.S. diesel average, coming after a nearly six-month period of price drops that pushed the country’s diesel price below $3 and to its lowest point since 2009.
The last three weeks, however, could point to a reversal of fortune, as the price has climbed 6.9 cents in that time period and 6.5 cents in the last two weeks.
The national average price, however, is still down $1.117 from the same week last year, and the DOE still projects the U.S. diesel price to average $2.83 in 2015.
Regionally, all prices but the Rocky Mountain region saw price increases, too, led by an 8.9-cent increase in the New England region, a 7.6-cent increase in the Central Atlantic and a 7.2-cent increase in the West Coast (less California) region.
The California subregion still has the country’s most expensive diesel, $3.208, followed by the New England region’s $3.173.
The Rocky Mountains have the U.S.’ cheapest diesel, $2.762, followed by the Gulf Coast’s $2.795.