Fuel prices down again

Average retail pump prices in the U.S. for diesel and gasoline are following the same path as the last few weeks and continue to drop this week, according to data tracked by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The national average for diesel dropped 3 cents to $2.754 per gallon this week, the agency noted, which is $1.198 per gallon cheaper compared to the same week in 2014.

Diesel prices declined in every region of the country except for California, which was up $3.071 from last week’s $3.061 according to EIA. This week, only three areas saw prices above the $3-per-gallon mark:

• New England at $3.076 per gallon, down nearly 4 cents from last week;

• The Central Atlantic at $3.080, down 4.2 cents;

• California at $3.071, up 1 cent from last week’s $3.061.

  The national average for gasoline decreased about 5/10ths of a cent to $2.408 per gallon this week, the agency noted, which is $1.243 per gallon cheaper compared to the same week in 2014.

  Regionally, gasoline prices stayed about the same this week, with slight increases on the East Coast at $2.355, up 3/10ths of a cent from last week; Central Atlantic at $2.416, up 4/10ths of a cent; Lower Atlantic at $2.312, up 6/10ths of a cent; and the Gulf Coast at $2.188, up 5/10ths of a cent, according to EIA.

  The largest regional increase occurred in the Rocky Mountains, which was at $2.351 this week, up more than 3 cents from last week, EIA said.

  The largest regional dip in gasoline prices occurred on the West Coast, which sports a 3.2 cent decline to $2.922 per gallon, the agency pointed out.

  EIA also projects that U.S. drivers will pay an average of $2.45 per gallon for regular gasoline this summer. That projected average price is down from last summer’s $3.59-per-gallon average.