Diesel Climbs 2.7 Cents to $4.105 per Gallon

Diesel prices climbed 2.7 cents last week to a national retail average of $4.105 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The increase was the 19th in the 20 weeks since Nov. 29, 2010. The average retail price of diesel has risen 29.8 percent from $3.162 per gallon then. And analysts expect it to go higher still.

By The Numbers:
U.S. Diesel Prices

On April 12, EIA released the April 2011 Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook, which includes a detailed look at the forecast for transportation fuels during the upcoming summer (April through September).

"Regular-grade gasoline retail prices, which averaged $2.76 per gallon last summer, are projected to average $3.86 per gallon during the 2011 driving season," EIA said, adding that it may peak at about $3.91 per gallon by mid-summer.

"Diesel fuel prices, which averaged $2.98 per gallon last summer, are projected to average $4.09 per gallon this summer," EIA said in the report.

Across the nation last week, there was a wide variation in price, as probably will be the case in the coming months.

The smallest change was in the area with the highest average price. On the West Coast, diesel crept up 1.1 cents to $4.319 per gallon, $1.116 above last year's average price at this point in the year.

The largest change came in the area with the lowest average price. On the Gulf Coast, diesel shot up 3.2 cents to $4.033 per gallon, 99.9 cents above its level a year ago.

-- Contact Thomas L. Gallagher at tgallagher@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @TLGjoc.