For the second consecutive week, the U.S. average price for regular gasoline increased, this week by five cents. At $2.56 per gallon, the national average is $1.32 below the year-ago price. On the East Coast and in the Midwest, the average price moved up a nickel to $2.53 and $2.51 per gallon, respectively. Although the Gulf Coast registered the largest increase of any region, jumping nearly seven cents to $2.43 per gallon, the price there remained the lowest of any region. The Rocky Mountains had the smallest increase of any region, moving up just under a penny to $2.51 per gallon. On the West Coast, the price rose six cents to $2.83 per gallon, while the price in California climbed seven cents to reach $2.90 per gallon.
The national average price for diesel advanced two cents to $2.55 per gallon. The average was $1.95 below last year. With the exception of the Rocky Mountains, prices rose throughout the Nation. On the East Coast, the average increased three cents to $2.58 per gallon. In the Midwest and on the Gulf Coast, the averages rose two cents to $2.52 and $2.51 per gallon, respectively. The average in the Rocky Mountains was essentially unchanged at $2.54 per gallon. On the West Coast, the average price increased three cents to $2.64, while the average in California moved up four cents to $2.76 per gallon.