World and U.S. markets for crude oil and refined petroleum will continue to favor buyers in the short term, by a little more than recently expected, the U.S. Department of Energy predicted in a Sept. 9 report.

Diesel fuel will average $3.79 a gallon this year, the Department of Energy said, lowering its most recent forecast by 11 cents.

Diesel will remain over $4 a gallon this summer, the Department of Energy said in its latest monthly short-term energy outlook.

Diesel will continue to rise into next year, averaging $3.19 at the pump in 2011, the Department of Energy said.

The Department of Energy said diesel will average just below $3 a gallon this year, in line with its previous forecasts, but will climb over that level in 2011.

Diesel’s national retail price will average $2.98 a gallon this year, the Department of Energy said in boosting its most recent prediction by 2 cents.

The Department of Energy said diesel will average under $3 a gallon this year, lowering last month’s forecast by about a dime.

Diesel will average more than $3 a gallon next year, in line with a previous forecast, the Department of Energy said.