Global| Jan 06 2015U.S. Energy Prices Continue Broad-Based Decline
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Energy prices remained under pressure last week as they have since last Spring. Average gasoline prices declined another 9 cents in the week ended January 5 to $2.21 a gallon. Prices have fallen by one-third during the last year and [...]
Energy prices remained under pressure last week as they have since last Spring. Average gasoline prices declined another 9 cents in the week ended January 5 to $2.21 a gallon. Prices have fallen by one-third during the last year and by 40% since their June high of $3.70 per gallon. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in pump prices. The seasonally adjusted price declined to $2.47 per gallon last week from $2.59.
Crude oil prices also continued lower, falling to an average $53.39 per barrel (-44.7% y/y) in the week ended January 2 from $55.58 during the prior week. Yesterday, prices fell further to $50.04 per barrel. These levels compare to a June peak of $107.95. The seasonally adjusted price generated by Haver Analytics declined to $57.82 per barrel last week. Brent crude oil prices fell to $55.90 last week (-49.2% y/y) and were $51.08 yesterday.
Natural gas prices also fell 30.4% y/y but rebounded in the week ended January 2 to $3.02 per mmbtu, and yesterday rose further to $3.21.
The demand for all petroleum products improved 2.3% y/y in the week ended December 26 and gasoline demand rose 4.6% y/y. Inventories of crude oil and petroleum products increased 4.6% y/y, the strongest rise in five years, and gasoline inventories grew 3.8% y/y.
The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy and petroleum demand and inventory figures can be found in Haver's WEEKLY database. The daily figures are in DAILY and greater detail on prices, demand and production, along with regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 01/05/15 | 12/29/14 | 12/22/14 | Y/Y% | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) | 2.21 | 2.30 | 2.40 | -33.6 | 3.36 | 3.51 | 3.62 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl., WSJ) | 53.39 | 55.58 | 55.89 | -44.7 | 93.63 | 97.95 | 94.20 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, WSJ) | 3.02 | 2.88 | 3.60 | -30.4 | 4.37 | 3.73 | 2.75 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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