Energy

Gasoline and Crude Oil Prices Falling as Refiners Increase Output

153715598
Thinkstock
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly petroleum status report Wednesday morning. U.S. commercial crude inventories decreased by 2.4 million barrels last week, maintaining a total U.S. commercial crude inventory to 382.6 million barrels, and remain above the upper limit of the five-year range for this time of the year.

Total gasoline inventories increased by 600,000 barrels last week and remain in the middle of the five-year average range. Total motor gasoline supplied (the EIA’s measure of consumption) averaged more than 9 million barrels a day for the past four weeks, down by about 0.4% over the same period a year ago.

Distillate inventories rose by 200,000 barrels last week and remain near the lower limit of the average range. Distillate product supplied averaged 3.8 million barrels a day over the past four weeks, down by 6.2% when compared with the same period last year. Distillate production averaged 5.1 million barrels a day last week, about 100,000 barrels above the prior week’s production.

Tuesday evening, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported that crude inventories fell by 1.7 million barrels in the week ending July 4, together with a rise of 112,000 barrels in gasoline supplies and a decrease of 522,000 barrels in distillate supplies. For the same period, analysts estimated a decrease of 3 million barrels in crude inventories, a decline of 1 million barrels in gasoline inventories and a rise of 1.2 million barrels in distillate inventories.

Before the EIA report, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading down at around $102.604 a barrel, about 0.9% below Tuesday’s closing price of $103.40. The WTI price fell further to around $102.40 a barrel shortly after the report was released.

For the past week, crude imports averaged more than 7.3 million barrels a day, up by 20,000 barrels a day over the previous week. Refineries were running at 91.6% of capacity, with daily input of more than 16.3 million barrels a day, up 34,000 barrels a day compared with the previous week’s average.

Falling inventories and falling prices seldom occur in the oil markets. Refiners are running at nearly full capacity as gasoline prices decline and, as a result, are paying less for crude. Producers are slowing down, but they cannot slow down enough to push the prices back up. Refiners and gasoline prices are dictating the terms now.

ALSO READ: Gas Prices Drop Below $3.50 in 11 States

According to AAA, the current national average pump price per gallon of regular gasoline is $3.645, down from $3.67 a week ago and down from $3.653 a month ago. Last year a gallon of regular cost $3.483 on average in the U.S.

Here is a look at how share prices at three U.S. producers are reacting to this latest report.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded up at $103.59, in a 52-week range of $84.79 to $104.61.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) also traded up at $130.91, in a 52-week range of $109.27 to $133.57.

Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR) trades up about 0.3%, at $155.58 in a 52-week range of $89.72 to $159.24. Continental is the largest producer in the Bakken Shale play.

ALSO READ: EIA Forecasts Higher Gasoline Prices in 2014

The Average American Is Losing Momentum On Their Savings Every Day (Sponsor)

If you’re like many Americans and keep your money ‘safe’ in a checking or savings account, think again. The average yield on a savings account is a paltry .4%1 today. Checking accounts are even worse.

But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying more than 7x the national average. That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe and earn more at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn a $200 bonus and up to 7X the national average with qualifying deposits. Terms apply. Member, FDIC.

Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes to open an account to make your money work for you.

1 https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.

AI Portfolio

Discover Our Top AI Stocks

Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.

You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.