West Coast diesel fuel prices tie all time high Diesel fuel prices equaled an all-time high last week, with West Coast prices leading the nation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
   The national on-highway average diesel price climbed 6 cents to peak at $3.157. The national average tied the previous high price for a gallon of diesel fuel, reached in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. This price is up 64 cents per gallon over the same time last year.
   The West Coast continues to report the highest prices, with per gallon prices rising an average of 7 cents last week to $3.394 per gallon. This represents an 80-cent increase over the same time last year.
   While prices fell rapidly following the 2005 hurricanes once production in the Gulf state refineries resumed, prices are unlikely to fall this time due to the high cost of oil. Light, sweet crude reached $94 per barrel on Monday, moving close to the inflation-adjusted highs hit in early 1980. Depending on the calculation, the all-time high for a barrel of crude would translate into somewhere between $96 and $101 per barrel today. Oil prices have jumped nearly $10 per barrel since Oct. 19, mainly fueled by tensions in the Middle East.

Weekly retail on-highway diesel prices (Average all types, $ per gallon, including all taxes)
Region	10/15/07	10/22/07	10/29/07	Change from week ago	Change from year ago
U.S.	$3.039	$3.094	$3.157	$0.063	$0.640
East Coast	$3.023	$3.078	$3.148	$0.070	$0.618
New England	$3.122	$3.182	$3.250	$0.068	$0.621
Central Atlantic	$3.125	$3.186	$3.251	$0.065	$0.605
Lower Atlantic	$2.970	$3.022	$3.095	$0.073	$0.623
Midwest	$3.025	$3.067	$3.122	$0.055	$0.621
Gulf Coast	$2.941	$2.994	$3.062	$0.068	$0.600
Rocky Mountain	$3.169	$3.229	$3.281	$0.052	$0.704
West Coast	$3.229	$3.323	$3.394	$0.071	$0.792

 

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.