After falling for five straight weeks, diesel prices picked up this week, rising 7.6 cents

, according to the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. Diesel rose to $2.832 a gallon, following last week's dip to $2.756 a gallon on the heels of the Presidents' Day weekend.

Prior to this week, trucking's main fuel was down a total of 12.3 cents since starting its downward trend last month. This week's price is about 70 cents up from a year ago.

Diesel prices broke $3 in New England at $3.011 a gallon. The Central Atlantic region had the second highest prices, averaging $2.967 a gallon. The Gulf Coast and the Midwest regions had the lowest prices, at $2.793 and $2.794 a gallon, respectively.

Gasoline rose almost a nickel to settle at a national average of $2.655 a gallon. This week's price is 74.6 cent higher than last year.

Meanwhile, crude oil hovered around $80 a barrel Monday as stocks were down, according to reports by MarketWatch. Crude oil for March delivery closed out Monday trading at $80.16 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, MarketWatch says. The crude contract expired at the end of trading Monday.