U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Mar 27/08 - 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 March 24
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         4.045     0.010     1.388
       New England        4.142     0.023     1.429
       Central Atlantic   4.186     0.009     1.475
       Lower Atlantic     3.975     0.008     1.345
II     Midwest            3.964     0.006     1.309
III    Gulf Coast         3.928     0.014     1.285
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.953     0.061     1.173
V      West Coast         4.056     0.038     1.253
       California         4.119     0.036     1.250
Total  U.S.               3.989     0.015     1.313