According to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline and diesel prices have been increasing due to high late-winter crude oil p rices and high rates of refinery utilization. Diesel prices also have upward pressure from relatively low levels of distillate inventories.
Nebraska's retail gasoline price increased 6 cents from last week to $2.26 with metro prices ranging from $2.22 in Kearney to $2.31 in North Platte. Weekly averages were a nickel higher than last week for Kearney and North Platte; 6 cents higher for Grand Island, 7 cents higher for Columbus, and 8 cents higher for Lincoln and Omaha. This week's state average was 52 cents higher than the price at this time last year. As of April 1, the Midwest gasoline stock level continued above the normal range with 53.2 million barrels.
The state average retail diesel price rose 5 cents from last week to $2.33 per gallon with Nebraska's metro prices ranging from $2.28 in Columbus to $2.35 in Lincoln. According to the weekly price report, this week's state average is 67 cents higher than the price at this time last year. The Midwest distillate fuel inventory level continued at the lower boundary of the normal range as of April 1.
An archive of this report and historical weekly prices are available.
