Fuel prices in Iowa climbed again after a short-lived decline last week. According to AAA-Iowa and the Iowa Department of Agriculture, the cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.86, a six-cent bump from last week and $1.08 higher than a year ago. The national average as of Wednesday was $4.11. Retail diesel prices increased by eight cents to $4.80 per gallon, which is $1.78 higher than a year ago but still 26 cents below the current national average. Wholesale ethanol was unchanged at $2.16 per gallon. Natural gas prices were up one cent to $6.97 per MMBtu.
