It’s back to the future time. The average price for diesel fuel in the U.S. is currently lower than regular unleaded gasoline. While retail costs are on the rise across the board, the rate of rise for gasoline has exceeded that of diesel fuel.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is currently $2.240 per gallon in the U.S., while the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is $2.216. Price differentials vary on a region by region basis, with the cost of diesel exceeding regular unleaded gasoline in many locations. The diesel price advantage is highest in the Midwest, where a gallon of regular unleaded averages $2.257 and diesel fuel averages $2.156.
It’s unclear whether this trend will continue as we enter the summer driving season, when gas prices typically peak. If it does, sales of fuel efficient clean diesels like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and BMW 335d are sure to increase.
Rising fuel prices, government incentives for alternative fuel vehicles, and the inevitable passage of some form of the Cash for Clunkers program along with the pairing of Fiat and Chrysler all favor a heightened adoption of clean diesel technology here in the States.
Regular Unleaded Gasoline / Diesel Fuel Prices – 5/11/2009
| Regular Unleaded Gasoline | Diesel Fuel | |
| U.S. | 2.240 | 2.216 |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast | 2.214 | 2.255 |
| New England | 2.249 | 2.395 |
| Central Atlantic | 2.238 | 2.386 |
| Lower Atlantic | 2.187 | 2.186 |
| Midwest | 2.257 | 2.156 |
| Gulf Coast | 2.134 | 2.198 |
| Rocky Mountain | 2.181 | 2.270 |
| West Coast | 2.368 | 2.329 |
| California | 2.424 | 2.337 |
Source: Energy Information Administration