The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel jumped 6.3 cents this week to $2.991, with several regions reporting prices at $3 per gallon or higher. This is the highest the average price has been since late May

and is the third straight weekly increase.

According to weekly figures released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the highest average price, $3.124, was reported on the West Coast, led by California at $3.183. The East Coast, including the New England and Central Atlantic regions, also reported prices of $3 or more. The lowest average prices were seen in the Gulf Coast region at $2.947.

The amount of this week's increase varied from 1.8 cents in the New Egnland region to 7.2 cents in the Lower Atlantic.

Crude oil prices closed at $81.48 a barrel Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.