U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - May 23/13 - 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 May 20
                        (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         3.871     0.006    -0.128
       New England        3.991    -0.004    -0.139
       Central Atlantic   3.925     0.015    -0.154
       Lower Atlantic     3.809     0.002    -0.107
II     Midwest            3.934     0.025     0.080
III    Gulf Coast         3.775     0.036    -0.086
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.848     0.026    -0.139
V      West Coast         4.008     0.039    -0.225
        less California   3.932     0.049    -0.220
       California         4.072     0.030    -0.231
Total  U.S.               3.890     0.024    -0.066
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