Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Oct 22 2019

U.S. Gasoline & Crude Oil Prices Are Little Changed

Summary

In the week ended October 21, the U.S. pump price for gasoline of $2.64 per gallon (-7.1% y/y) compared to $2.63 during the previous week. Haver Analytics adjusts these price figures for seasonal variation. The seasonally-adjusted [...]


In the week ended October 21, the U.S. pump price for gasoline of $2.64 per gallon (-7.1% y/y) compared to $2.63 during the previous week. Haver Analytics adjusts these price figures for seasonal variation. The seasonally-adjusted price improved to $2.57 per gallon, up three cents from the prior week.

In the week ended October 18, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil was little changed w/w at $53.49 per barrel (-23.9% y/y). It has trended sideways since early-August. Yesterday, the price was $53.31 per barrel. The price of Brent crude oil improved slightly to $59.27 per barrel (-26.1% y/y) from $58.93 during the previous week. Yesterday, the price eased to $58.88.

The price of natural gas eased to $2.25 per mmbtu (-31.0% y/y) in the week ended October 18 from $2.29 per mmbtu in the previous week. It remained below the $4.49 high reached last December. Yesterday, the price fell to $2.13.

For the four weeks ending October 11, U.S. gasoline demand rose 2.6% y/y while total petroleum product demand increased 5.4% y/y. U.S. gasoline inventories fell 3.4% y/y while inventories of all petroleum products increased 0.5% y/y. Crude oil input to U.S. refineries fell 2.8% y/y.

These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. More detail on prices, demand, production and inventories, including regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.

Weekly Energy Prices 10/21/19 10/14/19 10/07/19 Y/Y % 2018 2017 2016
Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon Regular, Monday Price, End of Period) 2.64 2.63 2.65 -7.1 2.27 2.47 2.31
Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl, Previous Week's Average) 53.49 53.26 53.12 -23.9 64.95 50.87 43.22
Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, Previous Week's Average) 2.25 2.29 2.33 -31.0 3.18 2.99 2.51
  • 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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