The national average price for a gallon of diesel dropped 4.3 cents for the week-long period ending Jan. 8, 2006.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a national per-gallon price of $2.537, down from the previous week's price of $2.580.

All nine EIA regions of the country reported decreases.

Diesel in the Midwest region decreased 5.1 cents in price, from $2.534 to $2.483, which was the biggest decrease reported.

The Central Atlantic region reported a 4.8-cent decrease from $2.681 to $2.633.

The cheapest diesel average was found in the Lower Atlantic region at $2.458, which was 4.5 cents lower than the previous average of $2.503.

In the New England region, diesel averaged $2.672, down 3.8 cents, while the East Coast region reported a 4.5-cent decrease to $2.520.

Decreases weren't as big from the Rocky Mountains heading west.

Diesel in the Rocky Mountain region averaged $2.682, down 1.5 cents from $2.697.

The West Coast region reported a 2.9-cent decrease to $2.824, while California - always reported as its own region - had an average price of $2.856, down 2.7 cents from the previous average of $2.883.

Despite several weeks of steady decreases, the national average diesel price remained 5.2 cents above last year's average price for the same week.