Gasoline prices are rising again, but a jump in the cost of diesel fuel might be the bigger concern, an industry analyst says.

The national average price of gasoline increased by about 7 cents per gallon in the past week, and by nearly 18 cents per gallon in the Pittsburgh area, according to price tracking service GasBuddy.

But diesel has skyrocketed to its highest level ever seen and is now $1 per gallon more in many areas compared to gasoline, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“The meteoric rise in diesel prices is likely to continue for the first half of the week at least, while gasoline prices could continue to see a slow but steady rise,” he said. “For now, the rising cost of diesel will surely be felt in the grocery store, hardware store or on your next flight as jet fuel prices accelerate, leading to a continued rise in inflation likely to ripple across the economy.”

According to AAA, pump prices rose over the past week primarily because of the high cost of crude oil, with the cost of a barrel continuing to hover around $100.

Oil price accounts for about 60% of pump prices, AAA said. The fluctuating oil price and tight gasoline supply have pushed pump prices higher and likely will face upward pressure as oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.

“As long as the supply remains tight, it will be hard for crude oil prices to fall and consumers will, in turn, face higher prices at the pump,” AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said. “It now costs drivers in the U.S. about $23 more to fill up than a year ago.”

The average price of gasoline in the Pittsburgh area is $4.34, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations. That’s 6.8 cents per gallon more than a month ago and $1.32 more than a year ago.

Prices in the Pittsburgh area range from $3.99 to $4.59, a difference of 60 cents per gallon. Statewide, prices range from $3.79 up to $5.40, a difference of $1.61, according to GasBuddy.

The national average stands at $4.17 per gallon, down 1 cent from a month ago but $1.29 more than a year ago, according to GasBuddy.

The highest average price was set on March 11, when the national average was about $4.33 and the Pennsylvania average was about $4.44, according to AAA.

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