Diesel Jumps 7.6¢ to $3.015 a Gallon
Diesel jumped 7.6 cents to a national average $3.015 a gallon — the first time in 17 months it has topped the $3 mark, the Department of Energy said.
It had gained 19.8 in five straight increases before last week’s 0.7-cent drop, and Monday’s jump matched the first of those five gains, a 7.6-cent increase on Feb. 22.
Diesel was last over $3 a gallon on Nov. 3, 2008, when it registered $3.088 as it fell from that year’s record high prices. Its all-time high was $4.764 a gallon, set on July 14, 2008.
Gasoline also rose following a one-week respite, climbing 2.8 cents to $2.826 a gallon, DOE said Monday following its weekly survey of filling stations.
Gas had risen 21.1 cents over the previous five weeks before last week’s 2.1-cent downturn, and Monday’s price was the highest since it registered $2.914 a gallon on Oct. 20, 2008.
Diesel’s price left it 78.7 cents higher than the same week last year, while gas is 78.9 cents more expensive than a year ago, according to DOE.
Crude oil prices also rose Monday to their highest level in 17 months, climbing $1.75 to $86.62 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, Bloomberg reported.
Each week, DOE surveys about 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.
