Global| Feb 03 2015U.S. Gasoline and Crude Oil Prices Level Off
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The seven-month freefall in energy prices took a breather last week. Average gasoline prices moved up 3 cents in the week ended February 2 to $2.07 per gallon, reversing the prior week's decline. Prices peaked at $3.70 per gallon this [...]
The seven-month freefall in energy prices took a breather last week. Average gasoline prices moved up 3 cents in the week ended February 2 to $2.07 per gallon, reversing the prior week's decline. Prices peaked at $3.70 per gallon this past June. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in pump prices. The seasonally adjusted price slipped, nevertheless, to a new low of $2.24 per gallon last week from $2.25 during the week prior.
For the week ended January 30, WTI crude oil prices continued to work lower to an average $45.57 per barrel (-53.2% y/y). In the last two days, however, prices rallied to $49.57 per barrel. These prices compare to a June peak of $107.95. Some of the recent improvement was to be expected this time of year. The seasonally adjusted price generated by Haver Analytics continued lower to $48.83 per barrel last week. Brent crude oil prices improved slightly to $46.74 per barrel last week (-57.0% y/y) then to $51.74 yesterday.
Natural gas prices declined to $2.87 (-45.9% y/y) per mmbtu during the week ended January 30, then fell to $2.63 yesterday.
The demand for all petroleum products increased 4.2% y/y and gasoline demand improved 7.9% y/y. Inventories of crude oil and petroleum products increased 6.9% y/y, the strongest rise in five years, and gasoline inventories grew 1.7% y/y.
The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy and petroleum demand and inventory figures can be found in Haver's WEEKLY database. The daily figures are in DAILY and greater detail on prices, demand and production, along with regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 02/02/15 | 01/26/15 | 01/19/15 | Y/Y% | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) | 2.07 | 2.04 | 2.07 | -37.2 | 3.36 | 3.51 | 3.62 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl., WSJ) | 45.57 | 46.54 | 47.07 | -53.2 | 93.63 | 97.95 | 94.20 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, WSJ) | 2.87 | 2.94 | 3.06 | -45.9 | 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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