The average price of diesel ceased its downward trend this week, rising for the first time in six weeks
, according to the Department of Energy. Diesel gained 1.8 cents this week, landing at $2.60 a gallon for the national average.

Diesel prices have been falling since the end of August, slipping 9.2 cents before settling at $2.582 last week. This week's average is still $1.059 below the level during the same week last year, when it was $3.659.

Prices inched up in all regions except California, which still had the highest average price, at $2.791. The West Coast and Central Atlantic regions also posted highs of the week, at $2.732 and $2.723, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest prices were in the Gulf Coast and Lower Atlantic regions, at $2.530 and $2.554, respectively.

The price of gasoline also broke its downward streak, inching up 2.1 cents to $2.489 this week. Since mid-August, the fuel had dropped 17.9 cents. This week's average is still $0.662 cents below the price during the same week last year.

Crude oil rose 88 cents to $74.15 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Tuesday, the highest it's been in seven weeks, according to the Associated Press. The news service attributes the gains to the continued weakness of the U.S. dollar.