Recent Updates
- Japan: Japan: CPI, Government Bond Trading Volume by Category of Investors (Apr)
- New Zealand: Overseas Merchandise Trade (Apr)
- UK: Consumer Confidence Barometer (May)
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- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Index of Leading Indicators Fell in April
Five of the index's components fell in April, one was unchanged and four increased...
U.S. Unemployment Claims Rose in the Latest Week
The state insured rates of unemployment in regular programs vary widely...
U.S. Housing Starts Dip in April but Remain Elevated
The pattern of housing construction activity seems to be shifting toward multifamily...
U.S. Mortgage Applications Continued to Slide Amid Higher Rates
The biggest declines have been in refinancing activity, while applications for purchase are just starting to crack...
UK Inflation Jumps
Inflation is at the highest rate since the series began in January of 1989...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
Profits and Margins Plunge In Q1: Expect More Margin Contraction As Fed Squeezes Inflation
The Many Links of Inflation Cycle: Hard Landing Is Needed to Crack Them
Peak Inflation & Fed Policy: A Relationship Which Should Worry The Fed And Scare Investors
Why Have the Yields on TIPS Been Negative in the Past Two Years?
by Tom Moeller January 22, 2020
Retail gasoline prices fell to $2.54 per gallon (+12.7% y/y) in the week ended January 20 from $2.57 per gallon in the previous week. Haver Analytics adjusts prices for seasonal variation. The seasonally adjusted gasoline price eased slightly to $2.76 per gallon, but remained higher than the $2.41 low early last year.
In the week ended January 17, the West Texas Intermediate crude oil price fell to $58.28 per barrel (+12.0% y/y) from $60.83 per barrel in the previous week. It was the lowest price since early in December. Yesterday, the price was little changed at $58.34 versus a recent peak of $63.27 on January 6. The price of Brent crude oil eased to an average of $64.48 per barrel (+5.8% y/y) from $66.61 in the previous week. The price was $64.87 yesterday.
The weekly average price of natural gas fell to $2.06/mmbtu (-41.0% y/y) in the week ended January 17 and reversed the prior week's increase. Prices slipped to $1.98/mmbtu yesterday.
In the four-weeks ending January 10, gasoline demand declined 0.9% y/y, while total petroleum product demand fell 1.0% y/y. Gasoline inventories improved 1.1% y/y and inventories of all petroleum products increased 0.6% y/y. Crude oil input to refineries fell 2.5% y/y in the past four weeks.
These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. Greater detail on prices, as well as the demand, production and inventory data, along with regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.
Weekly Energy Prices | 01/20/20 | 01/13/20 | 01/06/20 | Y/Y % | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon Regular, Monday Price, End of Period) | 2.54 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 12.7 | 2.57 | 2.27 | 2.47 |
Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl, Previous Week's Average) | 58.28 | 60.83 | 61.75 | 12.0 | 56.91 | 64.95 | 50.87 |
Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, Previous Week's Average) | 2.06 | 2.10 | 2.07 | -41.0 | 2.57 | 3.18 | 2.99 |