Recent Updates
- US: Consumer Sentiment (Aug-prelim), Import/Export Prices (Jul)
- US: Consumer Sentiment Detail (Aug-prelim)
- US: Vehicle Miles Driven by State (Jun)
- Bulgaria: Agricultural PPI (Q2) Central Bank Survey (Jul)
- Blue Chip: Blue Chip Economic Indicators (Aug)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Housing Affordability Declines Further in June
The NAR Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index fell 3.6% in June...
EMU Output Makes Solid Gain in June
The European Monetary Union posted a 0.7% increase for industrial output in June...
U.S. Producer Prices Fall During July; Core Increase Weakens
The Producer Price Index for Final Demand fell 0.5% during July...
U.S. Unemployment Claims Continue on an Uptrend
Initial claims for unemployment insurance filed in the week ended August 6 rose 14,000 to 262,000...
RICS Survey Points to More U.K. Housing Sector Weakness
The survey of housing market conditions in the U.K. continues to show strength in prices versus weakness...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller June 26, 2018
Retail gasoline prices declined to $2.83 per gallon last week (+23.8% y/y) from $2.88 per gallon during the prior week. Prices have fallen for four consecutive weeks. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in gasoline pump prices. The seasonally-adjusted price was little changed at $2.72 per gallon, down versus its peak of $2.90 early in February.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices were fairly steady w/w at an average of $66.26 (53.6% y/y) per barrel last week. Prices remained lower than the $71.31 high in mid-May. Yesterday, prices strengthened to $68.08 per barrel. Brent crude oil prices declined last week to an average of $74.68 per barrel and were $74.69 yesterday.
Natural gas prices were unchanged at an average of $2.95/mmbtu last week (3.1% y/y) and were $2.93 yesterday.
In the four-weeks ending June 15, gasoline demand eased 0.9% y/y, while total petroleum product demand improved 0.9% y/y. Gasoline inventories slipped 0.8% y/y, while inventories of all petroleum products declined 8.2% y/y. Crude oil input to refineries rose 0.9% y/y in the last four weeks.
These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. Greater detail on prices, as well as the demand, production and inventory data, along with regional breakdowns, are in OILWKLY.
Weekly Energy Prices | 06/25/18 | 06/18/18 | 06/11/18 | Y/Y % | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon Regular, Monday Price) | 2.83 | 2.88 | 2.91 | 23.8 | 2.47 | 2.31 | 2.03 |
Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl, Previous Week's Average) | 66.26 | 66.20 | 65.35 | 53.6 | 50.87 | 43.22 | 48.90 |
Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, Previous Week's Average) | 2.95 | 2.95 | 2.88 | 3.1 | 2.96 | 2.49 | 2.62 |