Gasoline price increases for a fourth straight week

The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline reached $3.39 per gallon after rising less than a penny this week. The average price increased over $0.16 per gallon in the last four weeks and was $0.29 per gallon higher than last year at this time. The largest regional increase occurred on the East Coast, a rise of almost two cents to $3.43 per gallon. The Gulf Coast region followed with an increase of a cent to land at $3.21 per gallon. The Midwest moved about a penny higher while the West Coast price was virtually unchanged after increasing just two-tenths of a cent. The West Coast average remained the highest in the Nation at $3.61 per gallon. The Rocky Mountain average decreased for the thirteenth consecutive week, dropping almost a penny to $3.00 per gallon.

The national average diesel price rose for the second consecutive week, increasing over two cents to $3.85 per gallon. The diesel price is $0.45 per gallon higher than last year at this time. The East Coast had the largest regional increase at three and a half cents per gallon to put the price at $3.94 per gallon. The Gulf Coast and Midwest regions both increased just under three cents per gallon to $3.78 per gallon and $3.75 per gallon, respectively. The West Coast average increased just over a penny to the highest regional price of $4.04 per gallon. The Rocky Mountain price went against the trend and decreased two cents to $3.82 per gallon.