Diesel prices increase nearly 5 cents

Diesel prices were up significantly this week, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The average price per gallon increased 4.7 cents to $3.951, following last week’s 3.1 cent gain. Prior to these two weeks on rising prices, diesel dropped a cumulative 3.7 cents over the previous two weeks, when prices fell 1.3 cents and 2.4 cents, respectively. Those two weeks of declines were preceded by three weeks of gains for a cumulative 3.9 cents.  And those gains were preceded by two weeks of declines for a cumulative 1.2 cent drop during the weeks of December 9 and December 17. On an annual basis, the average price per diesel is down 7.1 cents.

This week’s average price is the highest in 2014 on a year-to-date basis and the highest since hitting $3.974 the week of September 16. And based on EIA data, much of the increase in prices is due in part to gains in the Northeast, with the East Coast average at $3.946, New England at $4.118, Central Atlantic at $4.060, and Lower Atlantic at $3.829.

Logistics Management oil and gas columnist Derik Andreoli recently observed that on the diesel side, oil production in the U.S. and Iraq continues to grow rapidly while emerging market demand will continue its lackluster performance.

Regardless of the fluctuation in diesel prices, shippers are cognizant of the impact diesel prices can have on their bottom line—for better or worse.