Global| Oct 07 2014U.S. Gasoline and Crude Oil Prices Decline Sharply
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Petroleum prices remain under downward pressure. The cost of a gallon of regular gasoline fell sharply last week to $3.30 (-2.0% y/y), its least expensive since early-February. To account for seasonal patterns, Haver Analytics [...]
Petroleum prices remain under downward pressure. The cost of a gallon of regular gasoline fell sharply last week to $3.30 (-2.0% y/y), its least expensive since early-February. To account for seasonal patterns, Haver Analytics constructs factors for adjustment of pump prices. The adjusted price declined to $3.28 per gallon from $3.33.
WTI crude oil prices also weakened to $91.44 per barrel (-11.3% y/y) last week and yesterday declined further to $90.34. The seasonally adjusted price generated by Haver declined to $95.87 per barrel last week. Brent crude oil prices fell to $93.61 per barrel last week (-14.0% y/y) and declined further to $91.93 yesterday.
Natural gas prices strengthened last week to $4.05 per mmbtu (13.6% y/y) but returned to $3.88 yesterday.
The demand for all petroleum products increased 1.1% y/y in the week ended September 26. Gasoline demand slipped 0.7% y/y. Residual fuel oil needs, used for heating, fell 13.9% y/y while distillate demand edged 0.7% higher y/y. Inventories of crude oil and petroleum products gained 0.2% y/y but gasoline inventories were down 5.1% y/y.
The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy and can be found in Haver's WEEKLY database. The daily figures are in DAILY and the petroleum demand and inventory figures are in OILWKLY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 10/06/14 | 09/29/14 | 09/22/14 | Y/Y% | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) | 3.30 | 3.35 | 3.35 | -2.0 | 3.51 | 3.62 | 3.52 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl., WSJ) | 91.44 | 93.15 | 93.52 | -11.3 | 97.95 | 94.20 | 95.14 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, WSJ) | 4.05 | 3.88 | 3.91 | 13.6 | 3.73 | 2.75 | 3.99 |
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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