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December 16, 2002 4:00 PM, EST

The average price of diesel fuel fell 0.4 cent per gallon to $1.401, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

Diesel fuel is the primary fuel for the trucking industry, and its cost is one largest expenses for many trucking companies.

Gasoline, the other major fuel for trucking, rose 0.3 cent to $1.363 a gallon, the DOE said.

The decline in diesel prices doubled last weeks 0.2-cent price dip, the DOE’s Energy Information Administration said.

Despite the price relief felt in most of the nation, in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions, the price rose, according to the EIA report published Monday.

The largest decline was in the Rocky Mountains, where the price fell 1.7 cents. Price declines were also seen in the Midwest and West Coast regions.

Each Monday, the EIA surveys 350 diesel-filling stations to compile a snapshot of diesel prices across the country.