Global| Mar 16 2021U.S. Gasoline & Crude Oil Prices Move Higher
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
• Gasoline prices rise by one-quarter y/y. • Crude oil prices touch 2019 high. • Natural gas prices drop again. The price of regular gasoline strengthened to $2.85 per gallon (26.9% y/y) in the week ended March 15, its highest level [...]
• Gasoline prices rise by one-quarter y/y.
• Crude oil prices touch 2019 high.
• Natural gas prices drop again.
The price of regular gasoline strengthened to $2.85 per gallon (26.9% y/y) in the week ended March 15, its highest level since May 2019. The price has increased from a low of $2.11 per gallon in November of last year. The spot market price rose to $2.02 per gallon (72.2% y/y) in the week prior. Haver Analytics adjusts the gasoline price series for normal seasonal variation. The seasonally adjusted price rose to $2.94 per gallon last week from $2.90 in the previous week.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices increased last week at an average of $65.02 per barrel in the week ended March 12 versus $62.29 per barrel in the previous week. Prices have doubled y/y. The price was $65.39 per barrel yesterday. The average price of Brent crude oil rose to $68.43 per barrel (95.7% y/y) last week from $65.74 in the previous week. The price rose to $68.84 per barrel yesterday.
The price of natural gas fell to $2.65/mmbtu (+41.7% y/y) in the week ended March 12 after falling to $2.79/mmbtu in the previous week. Yesterday, the price eased further to $2.58/mmbtu.
In the four weeks ended March 5, gasoline demand fell 7.7% y/y while demand for all petroleum products declined 14.6% y/y. Crude oil input to refineries fell 21.6% y/y. Gasoline inventories fell 6.2% y/y. The supply of gasoline in inventory in the week ended March 5 was 28.5 days, the least since the end of November.
These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. Greater detail on prices, as well as the demand, production and inventory data are in USENERGY.
| Weekly Energy Prices | 03/15/21 | 03/08/21 | 03/01/21 | Y/Y % | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Gasoline ($ per Gallon, Regular, Monday) | 2.85 | 2.77 | 2.71 | 26.9 | 2.24 | 2.57 | 2.27 |
| Light Sweet Crude Oil, WTI ($ per bbl, Previous Week's Average) | 65.02 | 62.29 | 62.33 | 101.1 | 39.43 | 56.91 | 64.95 |
| Natural Gas ($/mmbtu, LA, Previous Week's Average) | 2.65 | 2.79 | 2.86 | 41.7 | 2.03 | 2.57 | 3.18 |
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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