WASHINGTON- U.S. retail gasoline prices fell for the first time in three weeks, the Department of Energy said on Monday, as the weak economy cuts into petroleum demand.
The national price for regular unleaded gasoline declined 3.1 cents over the last week to $1.91 a gallon, which is down $1.37 from a year ago, the department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly survey of service stations.
U.S. gasoline prices have been slow to rise heading into the spring when driving usually picks up. Pump prices have hovered slightly above and below $1.90 a gallon for the last seven weeks.
The U.S. recession, which has caused lower petroleum demand and cheaper crude oil, has helped to keep gasoline costs in check.
Total U.S. petroleum consumption is down 2.1 percent during the most recent 4-week period compared to a year earlier, according to the EIA
The agency's weekly survey showed gasoline was most expensive on the West Coast at $2.13 a gallon, down 3.4 cents from last week. Los Angeles had the highest city price at $2.17, down 2.6 cents.
The Gulf Coast region had the lowest regional price at $1.81 a gallon, down 1.1 cents. Houston had the cheapest city pump price at $1.75, down 0.6 cent.
The EIA also reported gasoline prices were down 4.4 cents at $2.14 in San Francisco, down 3 cents at $2.13 in Seattle, down 1.8 cents at $2.05 in Miami, down 9.2 cents at $1.94 in Chicago, down 0.5 cent at $1.91 in New York City, up 0.5 cent at $1.86 in Boston and down 12.4 cents at $1.84 in Cleveland.
Separately, the average price for diesel fuel fell 2.8 cents to $2.02 a gallon, down $1.96 from a year ago, the EIA said.
The New England states again had the most expensive diesel at $2.40 a gallon, down 3.1 cents. The Midwest had the cheapest diesel fuel at $1.97, down 3.3 cents.
The national price for regular unleaded gasoline declined 3.1 cents over the last week to $1.91 a gallon, which is down $1.37 from a year ago, the department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly survey of service stations.
U.S. gasoline prices have been slow to rise heading into the spring when driving usually picks up. Pump prices have hovered slightly above and below $1.90 a gallon for the last seven weeks.
The U.S. recession, which has caused lower petroleum demand and cheaper crude oil, has helped to keep gasoline costs in check.
Total U.S. petroleum consumption is down 2.1 percent during the most recent 4-week period compared to a year earlier, according to the EIA
The agency's weekly survey showed gasoline was most expensive on the West Coast at $2.13 a gallon, down 3.4 cents from last week. Los Angeles had the highest city price at $2.17, down 2.6 cents.
The Gulf Coast region had the lowest regional price at $1.81 a gallon, down 1.1 cents. Houston had the cheapest city pump price at $1.75, down 0.6 cent.
The EIA also reported gasoline prices were down 4.4 cents at $2.14 in San Francisco, down 3 cents at $2.13 in Seattle, down 1.8 cents at $2.05 in Miami, down 9.2 cents at $1.94 in Chicago, down 0.5 cent at $1.91 in New York City, up 0.5 cent at $1.86 in Boston and down 12.4 cents at $1.84 in Cleveland.
Separately, the average price for diesel fuel fell 2.8 cents to $2.02 a gallon, down $1.96 from a year ago, the EIA said.
The New England states again had the most expensive diesel at $2.40 a gallon, down 3.1 cents. The Midwest had the cheapest diesel fuel at $1.97, down 3.3 cents.
