WASHINGTON — The average price of a gallon of diesel in the U.S. fell almost 3 cents this week to $2.22 — the lowest level since mid 2005, according to weekly figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

That’s $1.06 a gallon less than the average a year ago.

The highest prices stateside were seen in the New England region, with an average of $2.57; the lowest in the Gulf Coast region at $2.15, followed by the Midwest at $2.17.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices fell below $40 a barrel Monday, closing at $39.56 a barrel, the lowest close since Jan. 20, when oil settled at $38.74 a barrel.

In Canada, a liter of diesel averages about 90 cents, but the gap between diesel and regular unleaded gas is closing as the latter climbed slightly to about 86 cents a liter.

As usual, southern Alberta posted the lowest average prices, between 82 and 87 cents, while some parts of Atlantic Canada and Quebec saw prices as high as $1.00. Toronto and most other Southern Ontario cities were close to the national average.