In EIA’s April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we expect vaccinations and fiscal stimulus to support continuing economic recovery and drive demand growth for petroleum products in the United States. We also expect gasoline and distillate fuel consumption to increase from last summer (April through September) but remain less than in 2019. […]
Category: Today in Energy
Mixed water supply conditions expected to affect hydropower outlook in Pacific Northwest
On April 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) released its latest water supply forecast for the 2021 water year, which runs through September. The forecast shows near-average water supply in the northern half of the Columbia River Basin and below-average supply in the southern half. Abnormal to severe drought, […]
Both U.S. imports and exports of several transportation fuels fell in 2020
Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic substantially reduced trade of many petroleum products to and from the United States during the first half of 2020. Exports of selected petroleum products mainly consumed as transportation fuels—distillate fuel oil, motor gasoline, and jet fuel—collectively declined by 14%, or 344,000 barrels per day (b/d), in 2020. U.S. imports […]
U.S residential propane prices increased 30% during the winter heating season
According to the Heating Oil and Propane Update, the average residential price of propane in the United States averaged $2.30 per gallon (gal) as of March 29, which was nearly 43 cents/gal higher than at the same time last year. U.S. average residential propane prices increased by more than 52 cents/gal, or 30%, during the […]
U.S. energy consumption fell by a record 7% in 2020
In 2020, total U.S. energy consumption fell to 93 quadrillion British thermal units (quads), down 7% from 2019, according to EIA’s Monthly Energy Review. Last year marked the largest annual decrease in U.S. energy consumption in both percentage and absolute terms in our consumption data series that dates back to 1949. Much of the 2020 […]
U.S. residential heating oil prices averaged 16% lower than last winter but ended higher
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Heating Oil and Propane Update (HOPU), the price of residential heating oil averaged $2.86/gal in the United States as of March 29, which is 44 cents/gal higher than at the same time last year. U.S. average residential heating oil prices increased by more than 73 cents per […]
State gasoline taxes average about 30 cents per gallon
In the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest update of its data on state gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, the simple average of taxes and fees on gasoline levied by the states and the District of Columbia at the beginning of 2021 was 30 cents per gallon (¢/gal). These taxes and fees range from a […]
Extreme winter weather event in Texas reduced fuel ethanol production in February
The colder-than-normal weather that affected much of the United States in mid-February and disrupted Midcontinent and Gulf Coast petroleum markets also affected fuel ethanol producers. Fuel ethanol production fell to the lowest levels since the onset of responses to COVID-19 in spring 2020. U.S. weekly fuel ethanol production fell to an average of 658,000 barrels […]
U.S. gasoline prices have been rising with crude oil prices
U.S. regular retail gasoline prices averaged $2.85 per gallon (gal) on Monday, March 29, according to EIA’s Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. U.S. gasoline prices have generally increased since reaching a multiyear low of $1.77/gal in late April 2020, primarily because of higher crude oil prices and higher wholesale gasoline margins. Prior to this week’s […]
U.S. electric power industry produces less and recycles more combustible by-product
Combustible by-product (CBP) production in the U.S. electric power industry decreased from 135.1 million short tons in 2010 to 88.7 million short tons in 2019, a 34% decline. CBPs are residues left over after the combustion of coal, petroleum coke, residual fuel oil, and wood or wood waste. CBPs can be disposed of in onsite […]