Record high crude prices appear to have filtered into the retail level last week as the national average diesel price jumped 4.9 cents to $1.874 per gallon, trumping the previous week’s record-setting average.
Reuters reported that crude oil prices dropped below $46 per barrel Tuesday, a break from last week’s high of $49.40/barrel — the highest level in its 21 years on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The Gulf Coast region saw the most dramatic increase, up 6.8 cents to $1.833/gallon. Although no regions posted a price reduction, the West Coast posted the smallest gain, up 3.2 cents to $2.061. Once again, California is the most expensive region to fill up, at $2.153. Bargain hunters may want to fill up in the Lower Atlantic region if possible, as it posted $1.818.