Pump Prices Skyrocket 21 Cents Nationally

Diesel prices rose double digits in the U.S. this week, reflecting the steepest single-week increase in over six months.

The Energy Information Administration reports that diesel prices climbed 21 cents nationwide for the week ending Feb. 12. The massive increase — the largest recorded since a 22-cent spike in late July — drove the national average back up over $4 a gallon, to $4.109.

Predictably, prices shot up in all five regions of the country. The Midwest got the worst of it, with a single-week increase of 30.4 cents to put the price at $4.042 per gallon. The West Coast was a distant second, managing a still significant 17.2-cent hike to put the price at $4.723.

Gulf Coast prices climbed 16.3 cents to end the week at $3.865 a gallon, while on the East Coast, a gallon of diesel now runs $4.201 after an increase of 15.8 cents.

Prices in the Rocky Mountains were the least affected, though a 15.5-cent increase to $3.805 is nothing to sneeze at.

Despite the surging costs, diesel is still 33.5 cents cheaper than it was this time last year.