WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline rose 6.5 cents last week to reach $2.934 per gallon as of July 3. That's 70.8 cents higher than last year, according to the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Prices rose for the first time in three weeks, with the Midwest seeing the largest price increase of 9.2 cents to $2.913 per gallon. West Coast prices remained the highest in the nation, rising 1.3 cents to $3.108 per gallon. California prices added 2.6 cents to $3.189 per gallon. East Coast prices gained 7.0 cents to reach $2.924 per gallon, the EIA reported. Retail diesel fuel prices rose 3.1 cents to reach $2.898 per gallon as of July 3, which is 55.0 cents higher than last year. Prices varied throughout the country, with the Rocky Mountains and West Coast seeing decreases of 0.2 cent and 1.2 cents, respectively. But West Coast prices remained the highest in the nation at $3.056 per gallon, the EIA said.