| CSP, November 10, 2009 |
CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Prices of regular grade gasoline at the pumps averaged $3.8452 per gallon on May 4, down 6.75 cents from two weeks ago, according to the most recent Lundberg Survey (www.lundbergsurvey.com) of approximately 2,500 U.S. gas stations.
The total retail price drop since prices peaked one month ago: 12.19 cents.
More good news, the current price is 15.46 cents below its year-ago level, affording some encouragement to motorists, especially the underemployed. One year ago was 2011's peak price, $3.9998 on May 5.
Both refiner and retail margins on gasoline are robust. And gasoline demand growth is showing signs of life. Retailers on average managed to hang on to nearly all the margin they had on April 20; margin is now 19.36 cents on regular. Refiner margin on gasoline gained a bit. Not all of the oil price cuts have made their way through into gasoline.
If WTI crude stays at around $98.50 from here, pump prices will probably slide a few more cents. But crude oil price's next step is unknowable.
Camarillo, Calif.-based Lundberg Survey Inc. is an independent market research company specializing in the U.S. petroleum marketing and related industries. |
CAMARILLO, Calif. -- During the past two weeks, the U.S. average retail price of regular grade gasoline dropped 12.54 cents, to $3.4192 per gallon, according to the most recent Lundberg Survey of approximately 2,500 U.S. gas stations. In the prior two weeks, the drop was nearly as great. Total crash over four weeks: 24.77 cents per gallon.
It was mostly crude oil price cutting that caused this, but the poorly performing economy made a small contribution too: Acute underemployment is reducing gasoline demand each month compared with the same month last year, contributing some drag on price.
In the past two trading days, oil prices rose moderately but it can't be known what they will do next. If crude oil prices rise substantially from here, retail gasoline prices will surely follow but not as robustly as they would if demand were not so hampered.
Retail margin gave up 18 cents over the past two weeks, and on October 7 sits at 9.49 cents for regular grade.
Year to date, however, margin on regular is superior to annual averages of the past two years and retail price is higher than in the past three years, far exceeding the 2008 annual average retail price. On all grades pooled, margin year to date is 14.73 cents, better than any since 2008 while year to date pooled retail price exceeds the full year 2008 price by 32.8 cents per gallon.
Camarillo, Calif.-based Lundberg Survey Inc. is an independent market research company specializing in the U.S. petroleum marketing and related industries. |
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