A labor strike in Venezuela, conflict in the Middle East and a bone-chilling win-ter are all blamed for record-high fuel prices this month. Although costs appear to be subsiding for the first time since the fall, heavy-equipment managers have their eyes locked on fuel rates.
As of March 17, the U.S. Dept. of Energy reported the average gasoline per-gallon price at $1.73 and diesel at $1.75. Retail gasoline reached $2.14 per gallon in California, while on-highway diesel hit $1.99 per gallon in New England. In February, diesel prices abroad rose as well, with the U.K. at $2.81 per gallon and Germany at $2.27.