Rockies
Idaho ($2.78), Utah ($2.75), Montana ($2.71) and Wyoming ($2.69) rank among the top 15 states with the most expensive gas price averages. On the week, Idaho (+3 cent) and Colorado (+1 cent) saw increases at the pump, while Utah (-3 cent) was the only state to see a decrease. Wyoming and Montana state averages held steady.
Both regional refinery utilization and stock levels decreased in EIA’s latest report, but marginally. This will help to keep gas prices mostly stable in the week ahead, especially as fall quickly turns to winter in many parts of the region and gasoline demand decreases.
Great Lakes and Central States
Three Great Lakes and Central states land on the top 10 list for largest weekly changes with both increases and decreases. Motorists in Michigan (-10 cents) and Kentucky (-7 cents) saw the largest drop in pump prices while those in Indiana (+5 cents) seeing the steepest increase. Ohio (+4 cents) was the only other state in the region to see gas prices increase.
Regional state gas price averages range from as expensive as $2.75 in Illinois to as cheap as $2.30 in Missouri. Both of these states land on the top 10 list for most expensive and least expensive state averages, respectively.
Gasoline stocks in the region remained mostly stable, seeing only a decline of 25,000 bbl. EIA data also showed that regional refinery utilization decreased 5%, down to 87%, which is an average rate compared to other regions in the country. If stocks see another dip this week, alongside the lower refinery rate, the region may see a little volatility in pump prices in the week ahead.
South and Southeast
Gas prices are cheaper across all South and Southeast states on the week with the exception of Tennessee (+1 cent). The states with the largest decreases were: Florida (-6 cents), Georgia (-4 cents), New Mexico (-3 cents), Texas (-4 cents) and South Carolina (-4 cents).
Gas prices are cheaper or stable on the week and compared to last year, but all state averages are more expensive by one to seven cents compared to last month.
With a build of 1 million bbl, the region recouped the previous week’s gasoline stock draw and pushed total levels back over 80 million bbl. Regional refinery utilization saw a small 1% decline. The significant stock build will help to push gas prices cheaper in the week ahead.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
State gas price averages are at least a quarter cheaper year-over-year. These Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states have the biggest yearly change with pump prices 36 cents less: Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Delaware. Vermont (-26 cents) carries the smallest yearly differential in the region.
Motorists in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are all starting the work week with cheaper pump prices compared to last Monday. State averages range from $2.73 – $2.31, which are anywhere between one to three cents less on the week.
After two weeks of builds, the EIA reported a significant 1.4 million bbl draw the region, dropping stocks to 63.4 million bbl. More concerning is the drop in regional refinery utilization, which went from 67% down to 60% for the week ending Oct. 4. The refinery rate drop, which is likely due to planned and unplanned maintenance, plus the large draw in stocks could cause some volatility at the pump for motorists in the week ahead.
Oil market dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI increased by $1.15 to settle at $54.70. Crude prices increased last week after Iran announced that one of its oil tankers was struck, potentially by missiles, in the Red Sea on Friday. The incident adds to concerns that increased tension in the Middle East could lead to a disruption in global crude supply.
Crude prices also increased based on reports that OPEC and its partners could deepen production cuts next year in an effort to reduce supply, which would lead to higher prices. The current production reduction agreement of 1.2 million b/d is in effect until March 2020, but when OPEC and its partners meet on December 5 and 6 in Vienna, the group could decide to deepen the cuts. Additionally, crude prices rose after the U.S. and China announced a partial trade agreement at the end of last week. However, if trade tensions return, alongside increased tension in the Middle East, crude prices could slip this week.