U.S. Diesel Fuel Cost Survey

WASHINGTON - May 8/14 - 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 5
                        (US$/gallon)
                                   Change    Change
Region Location           Price   Week ago  Year ago
I      East Coast         4.055    -0.010     0.192
       New England        4.181    -0.027     0.195
       Central Atlantic   4.176    -0.009     0.265
       Lower Atlantic     3.940    -0.009     0.136
II     Midwest            3.935    -0.012     0.067
III    Gulf Coast         3.813    -0.011     0.078
IV     Rocky Mountain     3.978    -0.004     0.174
V      West Coast         4.046    -0.009     0.123
        less California   3.944    -0.010     0.114
       California         4.132    -0.008     0.131
Total  U.S.               3.964    -0.011     0.119