U.S. Diesel Falls 4.3¢ to $3.711 per Gallon; Midwest & Rockies Lead Declines, West Coast Remains Priciest – Week of 2025-10-06

U.S. diesel prices ease for the week of October 6, 2025, with broad regional declines

Truckers got a modest break at the pump this week. The national on-highway diesel average slipped to $3.711 per gallon for the week of October 6, down 4.3 cents (−1.15%) from $3.754 last week. Every major region posted week-over-week declines, led by the Midwest and Rocky Mountains, while the West Coast remained the priciest market despite a small drop.

Price analysis: week-over-week moves

Nationally, the 4.3-cent decline reflects a market still balancing ample distillate availability with seasonal refinery maintenance and softening freight-related fuel demand. Regionally, the Midwest fell 6.1 cents to $3.67 (−1.63%), matching the Rocky Mountains’ 6.1-cent decline to $3.671 (−1.63%). The Gulf Coast—typically the nation’s low-price anchor—slipped 4.9 cents to $3.364 (−1.44%).

On the East Coast, prices eased by 1.5 cents to $3.735 (−0.40%), suggesting a smaller adjustment amid tighter local fundamentals. Out West, diesel dipped 3.3 cents to $4.499 (−0.73%), still far above the rest of the country and reflective of the West Coast’s structurally higher costs and recent refinery disruptions.

Regional comparison (current vs. previous week)

• National: $3.711 vs. $3.754 (−$0.043, −1.15%).
• East: $3.735 vs. $3.750 (−$0.015, −0.40%).
• Midwest: $3.670 vs. $3.731 (−$0.061, −1.63%).
• Gulf: $3.364 vs. $3.413 (−$0.049, −1.44%).
• Rocky Mountains: $3.671 vs. $3.732 (−$0.061, −1.63%).
• West: $4.499 vs. $4.532 (−$0.033, −0.73%).

Market drivers: what moved diesel in the past week

OPEC+ decision steadied crude. On Sunday, October 5, OPEC+ opted for another modest quota increase of 137,000 bpd starting in November—smaller than many traders expected—lifting crude roughly 1% on Monday, October 6. The restrained hike eased fears of a large supply surge, helping keep Brent near the mid-$60s rather than spiking, which limited upward pressure on diesel.

U.S. distillate stocks ticked up. The latest EIA weekly data released October 1–2 (covering the week ended September 26) showed distillate inventories up about 0.6 million barrels, refinery utilization around 91.4%, and a slight dip in distillate production. That small stock build signaled adequate near-term supply, aligning with the broad decline in retail diesel prices seen this week.

West Coast refinery outage tempered price relief in PADD 5. A significant fire on October 2 at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles affected a jet-fuel unit and curtailed some operations, tightening West Coast refined product supply even as the facility continued producing transportation fuels. The incident likely limited the West Coast’s week-over-week decline relative to other regions.

What this means for fleets

For long-haul carriers, the steepest relief continues east of the Rockies—especially in the Midwest and Rockies—while the Gulf Coast remains the cheapest place to fuel. The West Coast still carries a premium and remains vulnerable to refinery disruptions and CARB-compliant fuel specifications.

Outlook

Near term (one to two weeks), diesel prices are likely to drift within a narrow range. The OPEC+ move points to a cautious supply path rather than an aggressive ramp, keeping crude near recent levels unless new shocks arise. In the U.S., modestly higher distillate inventories and shoulder-season demand suggest incremental downside risk to prices, though autumn maintenance could intermittently tighten supply in specific regions. Watch PADD 5 for developments around the El Segundo restart; quicker normalization there would improve West Coast supply and could narrow the regional premium.

Actionable takeaway for truckers: continue to plan fuel stops strategically—favoring the Gulf Coast and Midwest corridors when possible—and monitor West Coast conditions closely. If refinery operations stabilize and crude holds in the mid‑$60s, the national average could grind slightly lower, but expect regional volatility to persist.

This article was prepared exclusively for truckstopinsider.com.

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Source of diesel data is the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).