WASHINGTON, D.C. --- For the first time since May 21, the U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline rose during the week of July 9, climbing 2.2 cents to an average of $2.981 per gallon. Prices were 0.8 cent per gallon higher than this time last year, reported the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Regional prices were mixed, with East Coast prices dropping 0.1 cent to $2.924 per gallon. The largest rise was in the Midwest, where prices jumped 9.1 cents to $3.045 per gallon. Prices for the Gulf Coast increased 0.7 cent to $2.858 per gallon. In the Rocky Mountain region, prices fell 3.1 cents to $3.066 per gallon, although they remain 17.9 cents per gallon above last year. West Coast gasoline prices dropped 2.6 cents to $3.080 per gallon. The average price for regular grade in California dropped 2.1 cents to $3.136 per gallon. Retail diesel prices continued to fluctuate, rising to $2.849 per gallon --- 2.0 cents more than last week, the EIA said. Diesel prices were 6.9 cents per gallon lower than at this time last year. All regions saw diesel price increases. East Coast diesel prices climbed 2.6 cents to $2.853 per gallon. In the Midwest, diesel prices were higher by 1.7 cents to $2.822 per gallon, while the Gulf Coast saw a rise of 1.9 cents to $2.785 per gallon. The Rocky Mountain region gained 1.9 cents, settling at $2.955 per gallon. The West Coast diesel price strengthened 1.5 cents to $2.987 per gallon, 7.3 cents per gallon lower than at this time last year. California diesel prices also rose, by 2.3 cents, to $3.090 per gallon.