U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Apr 26/07 - 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 25
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         2.837    -0.025    -0.051
       New England        2.864    -0.007    -0.097
       Central Atlantic   2.877    -0.008    -0.101
       Lower Atlantic     2.817    -0.035    -0.026
II     Midwest            2.831    -0.033    -0.016
III    Gulf Coast         2.815    -0.034    -0.002
IV     Rocky Mountain     2.978    -0.003     0.075
V      West Coast         2.953    -0.003    -0.073
       California         3.004    -0.011    -0.099
Total  U.S.               2.851    -0.026    -0.025