Diesel price falls for first time in 12 weeks

Updated Sep 26, 2012

ImagechartAfter 11 consecutive weeks of climbing prices, the national average retail diesel price fell 4.9 cents to $4.086 a gallon during the week ended Monday, Sept. 24, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.

During 12 straight weekly declines from April 16 through July 2, the price of diesel had dropped 49.9 cents a gallon; since that time prior to this week, the price had climbed 48.7 cents, although those increases ended with an slow 0.8-cent climb spread over two weeks. This week’s price is 30 cents above the same week last year.

Average retail prices fell in all regions tracked by DOE, led by an 8-cent drop in California, where prices nonetheless remained the nation’s highest by region – $ 4.386. The least expensive diesel by region on average was on the Gulf Coast, where prices fell 3.3 cents to $3.995 a gallon, the only region below $4.

Complete diesel price information is available on EIA’s Website.