U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Jun 19/08 - 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 June 16
                      (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         4.752     0.009     1.952
       New England        4.853     0.019     1.976
       Central Atlantic   4.874    -0.005     2.005
       Lower Atlantic     4.690     0.013     1.926
II     Midwest            4.618     0.003     1.844
III    Gulf Coast         4.656    -0.002     1.903
IV     Rocky Mountain     4.685    -0.013     1.778
V      West Coast         4.852    -0.022     1.894
       California         4.969    -0.023     1.936
Total  U.S.               4.692     0.000     1.887