From The Desk of Robert Potchen

Diesel Rises Again, Gaining 5.4¢ to $3.069 a Gallon

Diesel rose for the second straight week and the seventh time in eight weeks, increasing 5.4 cents to $3.069 per

gallon, the Department of Energy said Monday.

Last week was the first time since November 2008 that trucking’s main fuel had topped $3, and Monday’s

increase left the price 84 cents higher than the same week last year.

Diesel had gained 19.8 cents in five straight increases before last week’s 7.6-cent jump and a 0.7-cent dip two

weeks ago, according to DOE records.

Gasoline also rose for the second straight week and seventh time in eight weeks, gaining 3.2 cents to $2.858,

DOE said following its weekly survey of filling stations.

Gas had risen 21.1 cents in five straight weeks of gains before last week’s 2.8-cent rise and a 2.1-cent drop two

weeks ago.

The diesel price was the highest since it was $3.088 per gallon on Nov. 3, 2008, while gasoline’s was the most

expensive since the $2.914 price on Oct. 20, 2008.

The increases came on the heels of last week’s jump in crude oil futures, which closed over $86 a barrel last

Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange for the first time since Oct. 9, 2008, Bloomber g reported.

Oil prices have declined $2.50 per barrel in four straight declines over the past four trading days — from $86.84

last Tuesday to $84.34 Monday on the Nymex, Bloomberg said.

Each week, DOE surveys about 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.

By Transport Topics

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