Mark Szakonyi, Associate Editor | Jul 09, 2012 5:54PM EDT
Diesel prices in the U.S. rose for the first time in three months, climbing 3.5 cents in the week ending July 9 as oil prices rose more than a $1.
The last time the average price rose was in the week ending April 9 when the cost of diesel per gallon inched up six-tenths of a cent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Diesel prices are down 2.16 cents from a year ago and 10 cents from the beginning of the year.
Prices rose across the nation except in the East Coast’s New England region and the Rocky Mountain region, which saw prices stay flat and fall 2.5 cents, respectively. The Midwest saw the sharpest increase in prices, with the cost of diesel per gallon rising 5.8 cents to $3.638.
Crude oil for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose $1.54 to $85.99 barrel. Prices rose on fears that a disagreement between Norwegian oil producers and striking offshore workers could suspend production.
Contact Mark Szakonyi at mszakonyi@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @szakonyi_joc.