Both motor and home heating fuels saw modest price decreases over the past week. Global crude oil also dropped by $2.49 per barrel to $79.45. AAA Iowa reports this was reflected at the pump as of Wednesday with the average price of regular unleaded now at $3.18, which is $.02 lower than last week but $1.20 higher than one year ago. The national average dropped a penny to $3.41 per gallon. Retail diesel prices in Iowa were also down a penny to an average of $3.46 per gallon. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $2.20 in Iowa. The national average is $.18 higher at $3.64. Wholesale ethanol held steady again in Iowa last week at a price of $2.21 per gallon. All three home heating fuels saw price decreases as well. Propane dropped $.03 for a new statewide average of $1.98 per gallon while home heating oil fell $.13 to $2.95. Natural gas prices were down for the second week in a row, but this week only by a penny to $4.88 per MMBtu.
