Last week, the average price of diesel fuel in the U.S. increased slightly, ending a 10-week decline. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Sept. 23, diesel prices rose by 1.3 cents, bringing the national average to $3.539 per gallon.

Despite this small rise, diesel is still much cheaper than it was a year ago. The current national average is $1.047 lower compared to the same time in 2023.

Year-Over-Year Patterns The largest drops in diesel prices over the past year occurred on the West Coast (-$1.448) and in the Rocky Mountain region (-$1.193), with the Gulf Coast seeing a $1.09 decrease. These price reductions have provided some financial relief to fleets and trucking companies dealing with fluctuating fuel expenses throughout the past year.

Gasoline Update
The national average price for gasoline increased slightly by half a cent to $3.815 per gallon, which is 65.2 cents lower than it was at this time in 2023.

Regional Breakdown

  • East Coast (PADD 1): Diesel prices dropped by 0.8 cents, averaging $3.577 per gallon.
    • New England (PADD 1A) had the largest decrease, with prices falling by 2.1 cents to $3.797 per gallon, 81 cents lower than last year.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) saw almost no change, rising just 0.3 cents to $3.813 per gallon, marking a 95.1-cent drop from the previous year.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) experienced a 1.2-cent decrease, bringing the price to $3.467 per gallon, 96.2 cents cheaper than a year ago.
  • Midwest (PADD 2): This region saw the largest price increase nationwide, with diesel rising by 3 cents to $3.511 per gallon. However, prices are still 92.8 cents lower than the same period last year, providing some relief for trucking companies in the area.
  • Gulf Coast (PADD 3): Known for its low diesel prices due to proximity to refineries, the Gulf Coast saw prices increase by 1.9 cents to $3.191 per gallon. Diesel remains $1.09 cheaper than a year ago, marking the second-largest regional drop.
  • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4): Diesel prices continued to rise in this region, going up by 2 cents to $3.608 per gallon. However, year-over-year prices have dropped significantly by $1.193.
  • West Coast (PADD 5): Diesel prices fell by 0.5 cents to an average of $4.239 per gallon. California continues to report the highest prices in the nation at $4.727 per gallon, a slight decrease of 0.6 cents from the previous week. The West Coast has seen the largest annual price drop, with prices down by $1.448, including a $1.481 decrease in California.