Diesel prices down for third straight week

While it may be too early to call it a definitive trend, it is clear diesel prices of late have been taking a turn south, according to data released this week by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

This much was evident, as average diesel prices for the week of August 30 at $2.938 per gallon were down 1.9 cents from the week of August 23. Prices have been heading down since reaching $2.991 the week of August 9, according to EIA data.

While diesel prices are inching down, this current average price per gallon of diesel is 26.4 cents higher than a year ago, and prices have been below the $3 per gallon mark for the past 14 weeks. What’s more the current average price per gallon of diesel is 18.9 cents below the 2010 weekly high of $3.127 per gallon from the week of May 10.

Current diesel prices are in line with the EIA’s recent Short Term Energy Outlook, which is calling for 2010 average diesel prices to be $2.97 per gallon and $3.14 in 2011.

As for oil prices, the EIA is calling for 2010 crude oil prices to hit $79.13 per barrel and 2011 prices at $83.50 per barrel. This is below current oil prices, which are at $74.19 (as of press time). Various report have indicated oil prices have been due to higher inventories which is a sign of weaker demand and slowing economic growth. A Bloomberg report noted that oil prices have slipped six percent in the last month and have increased six percent in the last year.

Bloomberg noted that prices are likely to remain down, with oil supplies rising 1.3 million barrels—or 0.4 percent—in the seven days ended August 27 from 358.3 million barrels the previous week. This gain, according to Bloomberg, would leave oil stockpiles at its highest level since July 13.

As LM has reported, even though diesel prices appear to be in check for the time being, freight transportation stakeholders maintain that there is no real rhyme or reason when it comes to assessing the string of rising and falling fuel prices.

Some experts say that the there has never been a period of volatility in fuel prices like there has been in the last year. And with prices currently down by no means indicates prices will stay down or sharply go up.

If diesel prices do remain down, it is likely to have a significant impact on both shippers and carriers. But with the amount of volatility regarding fuel prices, the direction prices eventually head in is uncertain.

A shipper recently told LM that when it becomes time to negotiate rates, carriers will be talking a lot about the cost of fuel and using it as a leverage point for general rate and line haul increases. And because of this, the shipper explained that shippers must be acutely aware of what percentage of their invoice cost is actual fuel surcharge.