Diesel price highest since April

With the average retail price of diesel rising 1.8 cents per gallon to $1.504 nationally for the week ending Dec. 22, it is now at its highest level since April. A cold, snowy winter -- particularly in the Northeast -- appears to be driving the price up, bolstered by the drop in crude oil inventories. The largest gain was seen in the New England states (2.6 cents), while California actually saw a 1-cent drop but still has the highest average price at $1.681.