National diesel average heads up for week of August 31, reports EIA

Following declines in five of the last six weeks, the national average price per gallon of diesel gasoline headed up for the week of August 31, according to data issued this week by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

With a 0.015-cent increase, the national diesel average came in at $2.441 per gallon. This follows a 0.001-cent decrease, for the week of August 24, and a 0.001-cent decline, to $2.427, for the week of August 17. Those two weeks of mild declines were preceded by a 0.004-cent increase, to $2.428 per gallon, for the week of August 10. This followed a 0.03-cent decline to $2.424, for the week of August 3, and a 0.006-cent decline, to 2.427 per gallon, for the week of July 27.

The national diesel average has been below the $3 per gallon mark since the week ending February 2, when it posted an average of $2.956.

On an annual basis, this week’s diesel average is down 53.5 cents, 2.2 cents less than last week’s 55.7-cent spread.

West Texas Intermediate Crude is currently trading at $43.28 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.