U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Feb 28/08 - 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 February 25
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         3.608     0.164     1.082
       New England        3.710     0.122     1.060
       Central Atlantic   3.693     0.167     1.095
       Lower Atlantic     3.562     0.166     1.079
II     Midwest            3.525     0.160     1.002
III    Gulf Coast         3.510     0.143     1.013
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.473     0.123     0.905
V      West Coast         3.609     0.155     0.819
       California         3.672     0.161     0.761
Total  U.S.               3.552     0.156     1.001