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January 22, 2001 5:46 PM, EST

The U.S. average pump price for diesel fuel rose 1.9 cents in the past week, to $1.528 per gallon as of Jan. 22, the Energy Department reported late Monday.

That new level is the highest average price since $1.545 on Dec. 18. A week earlier, the $1.509 average had been the lowest since Aug. 21. In recent weeks prices have moved up and down within a narrow range, but without establishing any clear pattern.

Price rose in the past week in most U.S. regions — the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Midwest and Rocky Mountain areas. But the cost of diesel fell along the West Coast.

In a related report, the department said the average retail price of unleaded gasoline $1.471 on Monday, down 0.3 cent from a week earlier.

The U.S. Energy Information Agency surveys 350 diesel fueling stations at the start of each week, and reports the results late on the same day that it polls the stations.

Click here for more fuel prices.