WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Gasoline prices rose for the seventh straight week, climbing 1.8 cents to $2.577 per gallon as of March 19, reported the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Prices were 7.3 cents per gallon higher than at this time last year. All regions reported price increases. East Coast prices were up 2.0 cents to $2.553 per gallon, while Midwest prices rose 0.3 cent to $2.490 per gallon. Prices for the Gulf Coast were up 1.6 cents to $2.418 per gallon. The largest regional increase was in the Rocky Mountains, where prices rose 9.0 cents to $2.502 per gallon. West Coast prices were up 2.6 cents to $2.946 per gallon. The average price for regular grade in California rose 1.0 cent to $3.078 per gallon --- 44.3 cents per gallon above last year's price. Retail diesel prices fell slightly last week, decreasing 0.4 cent to $2.681 per gallon, the EIA reported. However, prices remained 10.0 cents per gallon higher than at this time last year. East Coast diesel prices fell 0.8 cent to $2.661 per gallon. Midwest prices were down 0.7 cent to $2.666 per gallon, while the Gulf Coast saw a decrease of 0.4 cent to $2.640 per gallon. Rocky Mountain diesel prices were up 2.9 cents to $2.765 per gallon. Diesel prices on the West Coast saw an increase of 0.2 cent to $2.813 per gallon. California prices fell 2.4 cents to $2.875 per gallon --- 13.7 cents per gallon higher than at this time last year.