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August 8, 2006 12:00 PM, EDT

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iesel fuel’s average national price jumped 7.5 cents a gallon Monday to $3.055, the Department of Energy reported.

It is the first time diesel’s national average price has topped $3 since setting a record $3.157 last Oct. 24 following Hurricane Rita.

Meanwhile, gasoline continued to rise, gaining 3.4 cents to $3.038 a gallon, about 3 cents off the $3.069 record set Sept. 5 following Hurricane Katrina.

The increases came as news broke Monday that BP’s oil pipeline in Alaska went down due to a leak, a development that took an estimated 8% of U.S. domestic oil production offline. (Click here for related coverage.)

The diesel increase was the biggest since back-to-back 11.1-cent hikes on April 17 and 24, according to DOE figures.

Diesel’s average was at least $3 in all five national regions except the Gulf Coast, where it was $2.988.

The price soared 15.6 cents in the Rocky Mountains to $3.208, vaulting that region’s price past the West Coast ($3.113) as the nation’s highest.

Truckers traveling to Colorado were warned over the weekend to avoid planning on fueling there because of spot shortages and rationing. (Click here for related coverage.)

Each week, DOE surveys 350 diesel filling stations to compile a national snapshot average price.