U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - Jul 19/12 - 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 July 16
        (US$/gallon)
   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         3.741     0.010    -0.222
       New England        3.848     0.008    -0.186
       Central Atlantic   3.838     0.020    -0.228
       Lower Atlantic     3.648     0.002    -0.264
II     Midwest            3.659     0.021    -0.244
III    Gulf Coast         3.617     0.012    -0.265
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.672    -0.008    -0.155
V      West Coast         3.803     0.005    -0.202
       California         3.886     0.004    -0.228
Total  U.S.               3.695     0.012    -0.228
Diesel fuel prices include all taxes. Prices represent an average of all types of diesel fuel.