Diesel prices hit highest mark since November 2018
A 6.3-cent increase in the national average diesel price during the week ending May 17 brought fuel prices to their highest level since the last week in November 2018, according to the Department of Energy’s weekly report.
The U.S.’ national average for a gallon of on-highway diesel is now $3.249. The last time prices were this high, during the week ending Nov. 26, 2018, the national average was $3.261.
The recent increase was spurred by a nearly 8-cent increase in the Lower Atlantic region, which was dealing with fuel shortages due to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown following a ransomware attack. While the pipeline shutdown only directly affected the Southeast and East Coast, fuel prices also increased across the rest of the country.