U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Apr 12/07 - SNS -- The weekly diesel price provides a proxy for trends in U.S. truck rates, according to the USDA.

Diesel fuel is a significant expense for agriculture commodity movements by truck, accounting for 37% of the estimated variable cost.

       Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices to April 9
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         2.813    0.049    0.137
       New England        2.821    0.035    0.052
       Central Atlantic   2.852    0.032    0.085
       Lower Atlantic     2.796    0.057    0.167
II     Midwest            2.835    0.055    0.221
III    Gulf Coast         2.810    0.044    0.209
IV     Rocky Mountain     2.951    0.067    0.271
V      West Coast         2.921    0.036    0.109
       California         2.978    0.039    0.097
Total  U.S.               2.840    0.050    0.186