WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased by 1.4 cents last week to reach $3.003 per gallon as of July 24. That's 71.4 cents higher than the average price during the same week last year, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Prices rose for the fourth week in a row, hitting above the $3 mark for only the second time in history. East Coast prices rose 2.4 cents to $3.004 per gallon. The Lower Atlantic region showed the largest regional price increase of 3.4 cents per gallon to average $2.957 per gallon. West Coast prices remained the highest in the nation, losing 1.2 cents to hit $3.137 per gallon. California prices were down 2.0 cents to $3.220 per gallon. Retail diesel fuel prices gained 2.0 cents to reach $2.946 per gallon as of July 24. That's 60.4 cents higher than last year, the EIA said. Prices climbed throughout most of the country, with the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountains seeing the largest increases of 2.7 cents each to $2.895 per gallon and $2.987 per gallon, respectively. West Coast prices remained the highest in the nation, falling 0.4 cent to reach $3.047 per gallon. California stayed flat at $3.097 per gallon.