Motor fuel prices crept up slightly over the last week according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture. For the week ending Wednesday, Feb. 16, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.33. This is four cents higher than last week and 87 cents higher than one year ago. The national average also climbed four cents to $3.51. Retail diesel climbed six cents on the week to a statewide average of $3.71, compared to $2.68 per gallon this time last year. The national average jumped seven cents to $3.92. Wholesale ethanol held steady at $2.16. As for home heating fuels, propane was unchanged at $1.98 per gallon with home heating oil falling six cents to $3.29. Natural gas continued its fluctuations, jumping 48 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site to $4.52 per MMbtu.
