The national gas price average dropped seven cents on the week, to $2.64, as domestic gasoline stocks built by a surprising 4.4 million bbl, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
According to AAA, contributing to the build was at least 1.2 million b/d of imports at U.S. ports. With the large bump, stocks now sit 235 million bbl — a U.S. stock level not seen in nearly five months.
“On the week, nearly half of all states saw gas price averages decrease by at least a nickel,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “While gasoline demand increased week-over-week, it wasn’t enough to stay on pace with the huge jump in gasoline stocks. Therefore, pump prices continue to decline across the country.”
Great Lakes and Central States
Motorists in five Great Lakes and Central states saw significant — double-digit — declines at the pump this week: Ohio (-19 cents), Indiana (-17 cents), Illinois (-12 cents), Michigan (-12 cents) and Kentucky (-10 cents).
These states not only lead the top 10 list for weekly declines in the country, but also lead the largest monthly decline with savings as much as a quarter since this time in July: Illinois (-33 cents), Michigan (-32 cents), Ohio (-29 cents), Indiana (-30 cents) and Kentucky (-24 cents).
While all states in the region saw declines at the pump, they were not all significant. South Dakota saw the smallest decrease of just a penny. Gas prices in the region range from $2.79 in Illinois to $2.39 in Missouri.
Gas prices declined as gasoline stocks in the region jumped by 1.1 million bbl to bring total levels to 50 million bbl. The increase in stocks was supported by a 5% increase in regional refinery utilization, which was reported at 100% by the EIA.
The Great Lakes and Central states are well-known for weekly volatility. While this week is starting with significant savings for much of the region, there is the potential for this coming week to bring increases.
South and Southeast
State gas price averages are four to seven cents cheaper on the week across the South and Southeast region. Florida (-seven cents), Oklahoma (-seven cents), Louisiana (-six cents) and Georgia (-six cents) land on the top 10 list of largest weekly changes. Though, Texas and South Carolina also saw their state average decline six-cents on the week.
The latest weekly declines continue to position the South and Southeast as the region with the cheapest gas, with seven of the 10 least expensive averages in the country: Louisiana ($2.27), Mississippi ($2.28), South Carolina ($2.31), Alabama ($2.31), Arkansas ($2.32), Oklahoma ($2.34) and Texas ($2.38).
The region saw a nearly one million bbl increase in gasoline stocks on the week and refinery utilization jumped 3.2%. At 84.7 million bbl, regional stocks now sit at their highest level since the end of May. Should stock levels and utilization remain at these high levels, motorists in the region can only expect to see gas prices continue to decline.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
New York ($2.84), Connecticut ($2.83), Washington, D.C. ($2.82) and Pennsylvania ($2.82) rank as the 9th to 12th most expensive gas price averages in the country. All Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states saw gas price averages decline on the week. However, pump price drops have been moderate (an average of four-cents) in comparison to other regions with double-digit weekly changes.
Regional gas prices are likely to continue decreasing, considering gasoline stocks rose by nearly two million bbl on the week. According to EIA reports, this was the largest build of any region. Much of the increase can be attributed to imports as regional refinery utilization saw a drop (2%) on the week.
Rockies
Gas prices are trending cheaper or stable after the prior week brought increases for a few states in the Rockies region. Colorado (-five cents) saw the largest weekly decline, followed by Idaho and Montana — each with a two-cent drop — and Wyoming (-one cent). Utah’s average remained stable at $2.91.
Year-over-year, most motorists in the region are seeing savings of at least 20 cents per gallon: Idaho (-34 cents), Colorado (-23 cents), Wyoming (-22 cents) and Utah (-21 cents). In Montana, gas prices are 16 cents cheaper compared to this time last year.
In the Rockies, regional refinery utilization sits at 103%. While this is the highest utilization in the country, the region carries the smallest stock level: 7.5 million bbl, according to EIA data. Motorists are likely to see gas prices continue to trend cheaper through August.
West Coast
Motorists in the West Coast region are paying the highest pump prices in the nation, with most states in the region landing on the top 10 most expensive list today. Hawaii ($3.64) and California ($3.62) are the most expensive markets in the country.
Washington ($3.25), Nevada ($3.20), Oregon ($3.10) and Alaska ($3.06) follow. Arizona ($2.77) is the only state in the region to fall off the list. Most state averages in the region have decreased on the week, with California (-five cents) seeing the largest decline.
The EIA’s recent report for the week ending on August 2 showed that West Coast gasoline stocks sit at 31.7 million bbl, growing by approximately 500,000 bbl from the previous week.
The current level is nearly 1.3 million bbl higher than last year at this time, which could help prices stabilize if there is any disruption in supply or an increase in gas demand in the region this week.
Oil market dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI increased by a $1.96 to settle at $54.50. Crude prices increased last week after reports emerged that OPEC is considering additional crude production cuts.
In July, the cartel announced that it and its partners would extend the 1.2 million b/d crude production reduction agreement for an additional nine months.
More details about the potential production cuts will likely be discussed at OPEC’s next meeting on December 5-6 in Vienna. Crude prices could increase this week amid further indications that global crude supply will tighten this fall.
The increase in crude prices last week occurred despite the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealing that global oil demand from May 2018 to January 2019 grew at its slowest rate since 2008. As a result, IEA reduced its global crude demand growth forecasts for 2019 and 2020 to 1.1 million and 1.3 million bpd respectively.
Source: newsroom.aaa.com