Price of diesel fuel makes second spike in two weeks

Diesel’s national average price continued to spike as it jumped 6.6 cents to $3.066 a gallon, marking the second big gain in two weeks, according to US Department of Energy information. The upturn followed the previous week’s 4.9-cent increase, putting the two-week rise at 11.5 cents and leaving the price 46.6 cents over the same week in 2009.

This week’s increase was the biggest in six months, since a 7.6-cent jump April 5 pushed trucking’s main fuel over $3 for the first time in 2010, to $3.015 a gallon.

Diesel held over $3 from early April through late May, and the previous week’s $3 average was the first time it had hit that level since then.

All of the regions recorded big increases, topped by an 8.3-cent gain in the Central Atlantic to $3.178. The East Coast gained 6.8 cents to $3.065, while the Midwest increased 6.5 cents to $3.055. The West Coast gained 7.4 cents to $3.239. The Gulf Coast is the only region to report prices under $3 a gallon, after rising 6.2 cents to $2.982.