Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Mar 20 2018

U.S. Gasoline Prices Increase

Summary

Retail gasoline prices rose to $2.60 per gallon last week (11.9% y/y), but remained below last month's high of $2.64 per gallon. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in gasoline pump prices. The [...]


Retail gasoline prices rose to $2.60 per gallon last week (11.9% y/y), but remained below last month's high of $2.64 per gallon. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in gasoline pump prices. The seasonally-adjusted price rose slightly to $2.64 per gallon.

WTI crude oil prices slipped to $61.31 per barrel last week (+27.1% y/y) compared to $61.66 in the prior week and last month's high of $65.22 per barrel. Prices rose to $62.06 per barrel yesterday. Brent crude oil prices fell to $64.14 per barrel last week and were $64.82 yesterday.

Natural gas prices of $2.69/mmbtu (-8.8% y/y) last week compared to $2.71/mmbtu during the prior week and were $2.77/mmbtu yesterday.

In the week ended March 9, gasoline demand increased 2.5% y/y, while total petroleum product demand improved 3.2% y/y. Gasoline inventories eased 0.6% y/y, while inventories of all petroleum products fell 8.5% y/y. Crude oil input to refineries improved 3.1% y/y in the last four weeks.

The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The petroleum demand and inventory figures are from the Oil & Gas Journal Weekly. These data 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.

What Could Resurging U.S. Energy Production Mean for the U.S. Trade Deficit? from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is available here.

Weekly Energy Prices 03/19/18 03/12/18 03/05/18 Y/Y % 2017 2016 2015
Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) 2.60 2.56 2.56 11.9 2.47 2.31 2.03
Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl.) 61.31 61.66 62.11 27.1 50.87 43.22 48.90
Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, WSJ) 2.69 2.71 2.61 -8.8 2.96 2.49 2.62
  • 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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