Despite minor price increases in areas on the East Coast, the average price nationwide for diesel fuel fell this week.


According to the Department of Energy's weekly report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the price of diesel dropped an average of 2 cents per gallon to $4.01. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, prices increased marginally, 0.6 cents per gallon, for diesel in the New England and Central Atlantic areas.

Across the nation, the largest drop in the price of diesel was seen in the state of California. The price per gallon fell 4.3 cents to rest at $4.23 in California, but the price in the state is still the highest of anywhere in the U.S., according to the report.

The price of gasoline joined diesel in the continued downward slope. Average prices nationally fell 7.6 cents to rest at $3.49. The cheapest gasoline prices across the nation can be found in the Gulf Coast, according to the report, where the average price per gallon is $3.27.

Prices for gasoline in the Midwest actually fell below the price per gallon last year. The price per gallon in the region is $3.32, which is 1.6 cents less per gallon than gasoline prices last year at this time.