Diesel Climbs 5.5¢ to $3.094; Gasoline Jumps 6.1¢ to $2.823
The average pump price of diesel fuel jumped 5.5 cents to $3.094 a gallon — the highest since the all-time record set in the same week two years ago, the Department of Energy said Monday.
The increase left diesel at its highest level since Oct. 24, 2005, when it reached a record high $3.157 following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Regular gasoline also jumped at the pump, gaining 6.1 cents to $2.823 a gallon and leaving the price 61.5 cents over the same week last year, DOE said.
Monday’s diesel upturn was most since a 6.8-cent increase on Sept. 24 and left the price 57 cents above the same week last year, according to DOE figures.
The price increases were led by spikes of 9.4 cents on the West Coast to $3.323, and 8.9 cents in California to $3.338, the highest levels nationwide.
Crude oil prices reached all-time highs last week, closing at a record $89.47 a barrel on Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, following an intraday high of $90.07, Bloomberg reported.
Oil prices fell $1.35 Monday to close at $87.25 a barrel on the Nymex, Bloomberg said.
Each week, DOE surveys about 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.
