Diesel rose to its highest level in more a year and a half, gaining 4.4 cents to $3.122 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported Monday.
The 10th increase in 11 weeks was the highest price since Oct. 27, 2008, when it was at $3.288 in a downward retreat from that year’s record highs.
The latest price left trucking’s main fuel 93.7 cents over the same week last year, DOE said following its weekly survey of filling stations.
Gasoline, meanwhile, rose 4.9 cents to $2.898 a gallon, following last week’s dip that was in contrast to diesel’s trend for the first time in 10 weeks.
Gas has gained 29 cents in nine increases over 11 weeks, and Monday’s price left it 82 cents higher than the same week last year.
Diesel has jumped 36.6 cents since its most recent upward trend began 11 weeks ago in mid-February, pausing only once for a 0.7-cent drop in late March.
Monday’s diesel increase was the biggest in four weeks, since a 5.4-cent gain on April 12.
The fuels’ upward trends have mirrored higher oil prices, which have risen to near an 18-month high at more than $86 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Crude futures rose 4 cents Monday to finish the trading day at $86.19 a barrel on the Nymex, Bloomberg reported.
Each week, DOE surveys about 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.
