The weekly retail on-highway diesel prices released by the Energy Department Monday (Aug. 20) show the cost of diesel fuel jumped for the second straight week following 10 weeks of falling prices. The national average price per gallon is $1.39 - up nearly 3 cents from a week ago.

The cost of fuel climbed across the nation with the biggest increase from a week ago in the West Coast region. Diesel there jumped about 5 cents to $1.47 per gallon.

Fuel in the state of California continues to be the most expensive in the nation. The price per gallon there rose about 3.5 cents to $1.52.

The lowest prices nationally are in the Gulf Coast region. Fuel there increased slightly to $1.34 per gallon.

The remaining regions' price per gallon is as follows: East Coast, $1.38; New England, $1.46; Central Atlantic, $1.45; Lower Atlantic, $1.34; Midwest, $1.41; and Rocky Mountain, $1.39, respectively.

The Department of Energy reports the average price of self-serve diesel each Monday evening. Prices are based on a survey of 350 diesel service centers nationwide and include taxes.