Diesel Rises 2.6¢ to $2.78 in First Gain in Six Weeks
U.S. Department of EnergyDiesel’s national average price rose 2.6 cents to $2.78 a gallon, the first gain in six weeks, as oil prices held near their highest level this year, the Department of Energy reported April 20.
Despite the uptick, the price of trucking’s main fuel is $1.19 below its level a year ago, DOE said after its weekly survey of filling stations.
Gasoline, meanwhile, surged 7.7 cents to $2.485 per gallon, its first increase in a month.
It was the biggest increase since a 14.1-cent jump March 1, but gas still is almost $1.20 below a year ago.
Oil surged last week to more than $56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest level this year.
Oil had been below $50 for most trading days between late February and early April before climbing in the past few weeks.
Crude futures gained 64 cents April 20 to finish Nymex trading at $56.38 a barrel, Bloomberg News reported.
Each week, DOE surveys about 400 diesel filling stations and 800 gasoline stations to compile national average prices.
