The numbers
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly on-highway diesel survey on October 20. It puts the national average at $6.276 per gallon for the week of October 19. That is up 9.7 cents from $6.179 the week before, and about $2.66 higher than a year ago.
The increase ended a short pause. The week of October 12 had dipped 2 cents from $6.199.
Where it hurts most
Prices went up in every region the EIA tracks:
- California: $8.242, up about 15 cents
- West Coast (all): $7.394
- Rocky Mountain: $6.422, up 12 cents
- Midwest: $6.352
- Gulf Coast: $5.903
- Lower Atlantic: $5.740, the cheapest region this week
The West Coast saw the biggest weekly jumps, at roughly 15 cents a gallon. The national average now works out to about $1.66 per liter.
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What it means for you
- Check your fuel surcharge. Many surcharge tables are tied to this EIA number. Make sure your broker or shipper updates to the new average.
- Fill up east and south when you can. On a 150-gallon fill, the gap between the Lower Atlantic and California is more than $375.
- Watch idle time and speed. At over $6 a gallon, every hour of idling and every extra mph costs real money.
- The next EIA update is due October 27.