Retail gasoline prices increased to $2.47 per gallon (3.2% y/y) in the week ended February 24 from $2.43 per gallon in the previous week. Despite increases during the latest two weeks, prices remained below an early-May peak of $2.90 per gallon. Haver Analytics adjusts prices for seasonal variation. The seasonally adjusted gasoline price also notched one cent higher to $2.64 per gallon.

The price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose to $53.14 per barrel (-6.4% y/y), its highest level in four weeks. Yesterday, the price of WTI declined to $51.43 per barrel. The price of Brent crude oil rose to an average of $58.49 per barrel (-12.5% y/y) after rising to $55.38 per barrel in the previous week. The price fell to $56.47 yesterday. Prices peaked at $67.38 at the end of last year.

The average price of natural gas rose to $1.98/mmbtu (-27.1% y/y) last week from $1.90/mmbtu in the previous week. The price eased to $1.94/mmbtu yesterday and remained below the peak of $2.81/mmbtu reach early in November.

In the four weeks ending February 14, gasoline demand declined 2.0% y/y, while total petroleum product demand fell 1.8% y/y. Gasoline inventories increased 0.9% y/y and inventories of all petroleum products increased 0.8% y/y. Crude oil input to refineries fell 1.7% 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.