The Weekly Fill-Up | August 11-15

August 11, 2025

As we reach mid-August, the U.S. fuel market is showing a blend of stability and subtle upward movement. Gasoline prices are climbing modestly but remain well below last year’s levels. Diesel is holding steady, supported by resilient demand, while propane inventories are steadily building as part of their seasonal cycle. Here’s a closer look at the numbers and what they mean for Sioux Valley Coop members.

Gasoline: Modest Gains but Still Lower Than 2024

Gasoline prices saw a slight uptick this week. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average for regular gasoline is $3.14 per gallon, up $0.017 from last week. Despite the increase, prices remain $0.308 lower than this time last year.

Regional price breakdowns show similar trends:

Midwest: $3.043 (up $0.029 from last week)
East Coast: $3.016 (up $0.017)
West Coast: $4.023 (up $0.028)

These movements reflect modest supply adjustments and steady demand as summer travel continues. While the market shows slight upward momentum, the year-over-year decrease still offers an opportunity for consumers to save compared to 2024.

Diesel: Steady Pricing with Year-Over-Year Strength

Diesel prices are essentially unchanged from last week. The U.S. average retail diesel price is $3.80 per gallon, down $0.005 compared to the prior week. Year-over-year, however, diesel remains $0.045 higher.

The EIA reports that distillate fuel inventories—a key measure for diesel supply—rose by 3.6 million barrels. Even with this increase, inventories are about 16% below the five-year average, signaling that supply remains tight in historical terms.

This stable pricing, paired with lower-than-average stock levels, points to the importance of monitoring freight demand and refining capacity as the fall season approaches.

Propane: Inventories Continue Seasonal Build

Propane stocks in the U.S. reached 84.739 million barrels for the week ending August 1, marking an increase of 1.262 million barrels over the previous week. Despite the build, inventories remain 3.17 million barrels below levels from the same time last year.

Residential propane pricing remains in its summer lull, with updates expected to resume as the heating season approaches. For now, the focus is on storage growth, export patterns, and preparing for winter demand.

Market Insights

Crude Oil Influence – Gasoline’s small week-over-week rise may be tied to slight tightening in crude supply and regional refining shifts.
Diesel Demand Stability – Freight and agricultural sectors continue to support steady diesel pricing, even with constrained inventories.
Propane Opportunity – Seasonal inventory builds create a window for early contracting and winter-readiness planning.

What This Means for Sioux Valley Coop Members

At Sioux Valley Coop, we track these market developments to keep our members informed and ready for seasonal changes.

For gasoline customers: This is a good time to benefit from loyalty rewards while prices remain lower than last year.
For diesel users: Fleet operators can take advantage of current stability but should watch for shifts in freight demand that could tighten the market.
For propane consumers: Summer is the ideal time to secure contracts, ensuring both price protection and guaranteed supply for the winter months ahead.

Our goal remains simple—to provide reliable, competitively priced fuel and energy solutions while keeping our community powered locally.