Global| Jun 28 2016U.S. Petroleum Prices Decline; Natural Gas Jumps Higher
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Regular gasoline prices declined to $2.33 per gallon last week (-16.9% y/y), down from $2.40 two weeks ago, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Nevertheless, prices remained near the highest level since early September. Prices [...]
Regular gasoline prices declined to $2.33 per gallon last week (-16.9% y/y), down from $2.40 two weeks ago, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Nevertheless, prices remained near the highest level since early September. Prices are down, however, versus a 2014 high of $3.71 per gallon. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in pump prices, and the adjusted price declined to $2.16 per gallon, the lowest level in five weeks. Spot market gasoline prices fell w/w to $1.46, down nearly 20 cents from last month's high.
Prices for natural gas continued to strengthen and increased to $2.72 per mmbtu last week (-2.2% y/y) from $2.57, then rose further yesterday to $2.76.
Yesterday, WTI crude oil prices fell to $46.33 per barrel. They remained up, however, versus February's daily low of $26.21 per barrel. During all of last week, WTI crude oil costs rose to $49.05 per barrel (-18.3% y/y) after falling to $47.92 in the prior week. Brent crude oil prices increased w/w to $50.03 per barrel, then were $47.49 yesterday.
Last week, gasoline demand increased 3.9% y/y, while demand for all petroleum products gained 2.1% y/y. Gasoline inventories rose 8.8% y/y and inventories of all petroleum products increased a diminished 5.9% y/y. Crude oil production (input to refineries) eased 0.8% y/y in the last four weeks.
The energy price data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The petroleum demand and inventory figures are from the Oil & Gas Journal Weekly. These data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY database. The daily figures are in DAILY and greater detail on prices, demand and production, along with regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 06/27/16 | 06/20/16 | 06/13/16 | Y/Y % | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular) | 2.33 | 2.35 | 2.40 | -16.9 | 2.03 | 2.30 | 3.33 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl., WSJ) | 49.05 | 47.92 | 50.19 | -18.3 | 48.90 | 93.64 | 97.96 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, WSJ) | 2.72 | 2.57 | 2.33 | -2.2 | 2.62 | 4.37 | 3.73 |
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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