The U.S. Energy Information Administration issued its Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending December 24, 2021. The statistics include:
U.S. average regular gasoline and diesel prices decrease
The U.S. average regular gasoline retail price decreased 2 cents to $3.28 per gallon on December 27, $1.03 higher than a year ago. The Gulf Coast price decreased more than 3 cents to $2.91 per gallon, the Rocky Mountain price decreased more than 2 cents to $3.39 per gallon, the Midwest and West Coast prices each decreased nearly 2 cents to $3.03 per gallon and $4.13 per gallon, respectively, and the East Coast price decreased more than 1 cent to $3.24 per gallon.
The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased more than 1 cent to $3.62 per gallon on December 27, 98 cents higher than a year ago. The Rocky Mountain price decreased nearly 3 cents to $3.70 per gallon, the Midwest price decreased more than 1 cent to $3.48 per gallon, the West Coast price decreased 1 cent to $4.37 per gallon, and the East Coast and Gulf Coast prices each decreased nearly 1 cent to $3.60 per gallon and $3.33 per gallon, respectively.
Propane/propylene inventories decline
U.S. propane/propylene stocks decreased by 3.6 million barrels last week to 66.5 million barrels as of December 24, 2021, 7.1 million barrels (9.7%) less than the five-year (2016-2020) average inventory levels for this same time of year. Gulf Coast inventories decreased by 2.8 million barrels, Midwest inventories decreased by 0.4 million barrels, and East Coast and Rocky Mountain/West Coast inventories each decreased by 0.2 million barrels.
Residential heating fuel prices increase
As of December 27, 2021, residential heating oil prices averaged nearly $3.37 per gallon, more than 2 cents per gallon above last week’s price and almost 93 cents per gallon higher than last year’s price at this time. Wholesale heating oil prices averaged nearly $2.47 per gallon, more than 11 cents per gallon above last week’s price and 86 cents per gallon above last year’s price.
Residential propane prices averaged $2.70 per gallon, less than 1 cent per gallon above last week’s price and 73 cents per gallon above last year’s price. Wholesale propane prices averaged almost $1.24 per gallon, more than 4 cents per gallon above last week’s price and more than 40 cents per gallon above last year’s price.