Following recent sharp increases in fuel prices, gas and diesel costs held mostly stable this week, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and AAA-Iowa. As of Wednesday, Aug. 9, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the state was $3.80, a one-cent decrease from the prior week and 16 cents higher than a year ago. The national average on Wednesday climbed one cent to $3.83 per gallon. As for retail diesel prices, Iowa saw a four-cent increase on the week to $4.05 per gallon, compared to $4.77 per gallon a year ago. The national average for diesel was 17 cents higher at $4.22 per gallon. Wholesale ethanol held steady at $2.16. Natural gas prices at the Henry Hub reporting site jumped 36 cents to $2.93 per MMBtu. Reminder: retail heating oil and propane price reporting will resume in September.
