Global| Mar 11 2014U.S. Gasoline, Crude Oil and Natural Gas Prices Move Higher
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Prices in the energy complex firmed last week. The price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased to $3.51 (-5.3% y/y) last week, up 22 cents from the low four weeks ago. Nevertheless, prices remained below the $3.78 per gallon peak [...]
Prices in the energy complex firmed last week. The price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased to $3.51 (-5.3% y/y) last week, up 22 cents from the low four weeks ago. Nevertheless, prices remained below the $3.78 per gallon peak reached in February of last year. Haver Analytics constructs seasonal factors to account for seasonal volatility. The adjusted price slipped 2 cents last week to $3.46 per gallon.
The per barrel cost of WTI crude oil improved last week to $102.91 (13.1% y/y) but remained below the $108.67 high in early September. Yesterday, prices slipped to $101.12 per barrel. Brent crude oil prices improved last week to $109.21 per barrel (-0.9% y/y) but yesterday moved back to $108.12 per barrel.
Natural gas prices recovered last week to $6.13 per mmbtu, up roughly three-quarters versus twelve months ago. Yesterday, prices back-pedaled to $4.64 per mmbtu.
The demand for all petroleum products slipped 0.8% y/y last week. Gasoline demand fell 1.5% y/y. Residual fuel oil needs, used for heating, improved 6.4% y/y while distillate demand fell 4.3% y/y. Inventories of crude oil and petroleum products fell 2.9% y/y.
The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy and can be found in Haver's WEEKLY database. The daily figures are in DAILY and the petroleum demand and inventory figures are in OILWKLY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 03/10/14 | 03/03/14 | 02/24/14 | Y/Y% | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) | 3.51 | 3.48 | 3.44 | -5.3 | 3.51 | 3.62 | 3.52 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl., WSJ) | 102.91 | 102.65 | 102.93 | 13.1 | 97.95 | 94.20 | 95.14 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA) | 6.13 | 5.21 | 5.98 | 71.5 | 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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