A shortage of diesel supply around New York Harbor and speculation that colder weather will boost demand for heating oil is pushing up prices for futures contracts and physical deliveries. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel stockpiles in the U.S. Central Atlantic region that includes New York dropped for the fifth straight week, reaching a six-month low despite gains in production and imports on the East Coast, Energy Information Administration data show. ULSD futures gained as much as 2.4 percent today on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and the premium over futures for prompt supply widened to the biggest in almost a month. Supplies are shrinking as temperatures are forecast to drop to as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend and the East Coast’s biggest refinery was said to have reduced production because of a boiler upset. “It certainly could get ugly again if we don’t significantly build the inventories needed […]