Motor fuel and home heating prices increased slightly over the past week, but natural gas saw a much sharper jump. According to AAA Iowa, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.08 for the week ending Jan. 12. That is two cents higher than last week but 22 cents lower than the national average, which climbed one cent. Gasoline a year ago averaged $2.03 per gallon. Statewide diesel prices averaged $3.38, a five-cent increase from last week and $0.90 higher than this time last year. Diesel averaged $3.59 per gallon nationwide. Wholesale ethanol climbed two cents to $2.16. Propane prices dropped two cents per gallon to $1.87 while home heating oil dropped four cents to $2.92. However, natural gas climbed 81 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site to $4.64/MMbtu.
