U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Apr 10/08 - 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 April 7
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         4.005    -0.009     1.192
       New England        4.121    -0.009     1.300
       Central Atlantic   4.142    -0.018     1.290
       Lower Atlantic     3.936    -0.005     1.140
II     Midwest            3.917    -0.012     1.082
III    Gulf Coast         3.894    -0.013     1.084
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.974     0.002     1.023
V      West Coast         4.052     0.003     1.131
       California         4.118     0.006     1.140
Total  U.S.               3.955    -0.009     1.115