If your rig is diesel-fired, you likely watch the fuel price reports closely. This week is a reporting anomaly. Nationally, diesel prices are up nothing since last week—or they’re up 15 cents. Is diesel up or not? It depends on who you ask.
Diesel up, says private concern; flat, say the feds
Tuesday, Uncle Sam’s fuel price watchers at the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that diesel prices on a national average were flat, the same as last week, showing an average price per gallon of $4.109. But the day before, another fuel price watcher, ProMiles, said that the average surged by 14.8 cents to $4.065 per gallon. While the average price per gallon numbers are close, there’s a whopping difference in how much diesel prices went up.
So, what gives? It looks as though the difference is in sample size. The EIA uses information from 400 truck stops and convenience stores around the country to crunch its numerical average. On the other hand, ProMiles uses direct feed information from thousands of truck stops to come up with its average.
Which average price is more accurate? Above are the charts from both the feds and from ProMiles. You might find it interesting to compare these figures to what you see and pay wherever you are.
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Who cares which survey is better? The price of diesel is still way too high!!!! Not good for RVers or Truckers (which impacts the cost of all goods shipped).
Depends where you are. Up here; down there. And who you buy it from, day of week and time of day. All this means is “luck of the draw”. Up to us to be vigilant.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Generally, the larger one’s sample, the more representative of the underlying population. But the sample should also be representative (in that that can be determined) of the underlying population. It seems as though EIA is using a sample while the other is essentially taking a census. If true, then the latter is more accurate (far more accurate?). In any case, I use the Open Roads fuel card and seek the lower-priced stations that are along our route. Currently, we aren’t traveling, so I’ve paid prices no mind. Safe travels! 🙂
It’s simple math to me. diesel where we live was at 3.29 per gallon a week and a half ago. When I checked the same station today, it’s running 3.69 per gallon. Looks like 40 cents a gallon higher to me. Simple math.
Up 17 cents from 1 month ago, in Southern Nevada. Still down 38 cents from 1 year ago but up a full dollar from 5 years ago.
PA……price is $4.49 (SHEETZ Convenience stores) buy elsewhere if you can.
Paid $4.12 at RaceTrac in Fernandina Beach, FL (northeast Florida) 3 days ago, not a happy camper!
People got what they voted for in 2020. Remember that this November.
Here in Salem Oregon, diesel up $0.10 per gallon at the local Safeway (probably cheapest in the city) in the last week. Jumped $0.08 yesterday. Now paying $3.79 per gallon.