Diesel Declines 8.6¢ to $4.03; Gasoline Takes Another Big Drop
Diesel’s national average price fell 8.6 cents to $4.03 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported, while gasoline dropped almost 12 cents following a big decline last week.
Diesel’s decline was the biggest since December 2008, according to DOE figures.
Gasoline declined 11.9 cents to $3.568 a gallon following last week’s 13.2-cent plunge, which was its biggest single-week drop in almost four years. Gasoline’s decline is its fifth in six weeks.
The fourth diesel downturn in six weeks leaves trucking’s main fuel 13.8 cents higher than the same week last year, while gas is 11.6 cents over a year ago, DOE figures showed.
Hurricane Sandy’s landfall in southern New Jersey late Monday temporarily closed five refineries in New Jersey and Delaware but several were restoring operations as of Tuesday afternoon, CNBC reported on its website. The refineries account for about 7% of U.S. refining capacity.
Each week, DOE surveys about 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.
