Fuel prices in Iowa are beginning to stabilize following weeks of gradual decreases, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and AAA-Iowa. As of Wednesday, Aug. 17, the price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the state averaged $3.59, a three-cent drop from last week and 59 cents higher than a year ago. The national average was solidly below $4 per gallon at $3.94. Retail diesel in Iowa dropped four cents on the week to $4.71 per gallon, 30 cents below the $5.01 national average. Last year, diesel averaged just $3.13 statewide. Wholesale ethanol was unchanged at $2.16. Natural gas prices jumped a dollar at the Henry Hub reporting site to $9.26 per MMBtu.
