National diesel average is down for fourth straight week, reports EIA

The average price per gallon of diesel gasoline fell for the fourth consecutive week, according to data issued today by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

For the week of December 5, the average price per gallon of diesel—at $4.967—dropped 17.4 cents, following an 8-cent decline, to $5.233, for the week of November 21, which was preceded by a 2-cent decline, to $5.313, for the week of November 14.

This stretch of declines was preceded by a 1.6-cent increase, to $5.333 per gallon, for the week of November 7, a 2.4-cent decline, to $5.317, for the week ending October 31, a 0.002-cent increase, to $5.341, for the week of October 24 and an 11.5-cent increase, to $5.339, for the week of October 17.

What’s more, this marked the first time the national diesel average came in below the $5 per gallon mark, going back to the week of October 3, when it was at $4.836, a nine-week period. That marked the third week in a row of weekly averages below $5 per gallon, with the week of September 19, at $4.964, and the week of September 26, at $4.889.

Compared to the same week a year ago, this week’s diesel average is up $1.293, down from the $1.421 annual increase, for the week of November 28. WTI crude oil is currently trading at $76.02 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.