Gasoline Prices Expected to Average $3.63 per Gallon During Summer 2013

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The U.S. average retail price for a gallon of regular gasoline has fallen for six consecutive weeks since hitting its 2013 year-to-date peak of $3.78 per gallon in late February. Early in 2013, increasing crude oil prices and strong seasonal crack spreads led to an increase in retail gasoline prices. However, in recent weeks, both of those pressures have abated, and retail prices have declined to $3.61 per gallon. In the April 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA)  projects that for the summer (April through September) driving season, regular-grade gasoline retail prices will average $3.63 per gallon, similar to the current price level. Last summer that average was $3.69 per gallon. Daily and weekly national average prices can differ significantly from monthly and seasonal averages, and there are also significant regional differences, with prices in some areas exceeding the national average by 25 cents per gallon or more.

The average retail price for regular gasoline is expected to increase to an average of $3.69 per gallon in May, then fall gradually through the summer (Figure 1). Most of the increase from the current price level is attributable to an increase in crack spreads as result of typical seasonal factors such as the switch to summer-grade gasoline, which is more costly to produce (a crack spread is the difference between the cost of crude oil and the wholesale price of the refined product). After averaging 23 cents per gallon in first quarter 2013, gasoline crack spreads based on Brent are expected to increase to an average of 40 cents per gallon in the second quarter, peaking at 42 cents per gallon in May. The refiner price of gasoline for resale (wholesale) is expected to increase six cents per gallon from the first to second quarter, which combined with decreasing projected prices for Brent crude, lead to the higher expected crack spread. As refinery runs increase from the second quarter to the third quarter, wholesale gasoline prices are expected to fall about 8 cents per gallon, pushing crack spreads down to a third-quarter average of 35 cents per gallon. 

While the gasoline crack spread is the major driver of seasonality in the retail gasoline price forecast, crude oil prices remain the largest source of uncertainty for gasoline price levels this summer. Brent crude oil prices averaged $112.51 per barrel in first-quarter 2013. Despite declining to as low as $104 per barrel on April 5, Brent prices are expected to average $108 per barrel and $107 per barrel in the second and third quarters, respectively.

The market's uncertainty about crude and gasoline prices is reflected in the pricing and implied volatility of futures and options contracts. While there is not sufficient liquidity in the Brent options market to accurately calculate uncertainty, WTI futures and options provide an estimate for crude oil market uncertainty. WTI futures contracts for July 2013 delivery, traded during the five-day period ending April 4, averaged $96.35 per barrel. Implied volatility averaged 18 percent, establishing the lower and upper limits of the 95 percent confidence interval for the market's expectations of monthly average WTI prices in July 2013 at $82 per barrel and $113 per barrel, respectively. New York Harbor reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending (RBOB) futures contracts for July 2013 delivery, traded over the five-day period ending April 4, averaged $2.97 per gallon. The probability that the RBOB futures price will exceed $3.35 per gallon (consistent with a U.S. average regular gasoline retail price above $4.00 per gallon) in July 2013 is about 12 percent.

Currently, at the beginning of the driving season, total gasoline inventories are within their seasonally-typical range, indicating a normal balance between supply (production and imports) and uses (consumption and exports). At the end of March, total gasoline stocks stood at 220 million barrels, 1 million barrels above the level of a year ago, and the same as the previous five-year average for beginning-of-season stocks. However, gasoline consumption has declined over the past five years, and gasoline stocks on a days-of-supply basis are above their five-year average. Moreover, an increase in refining capacity and production this summer is expected to contribute to a smaller draw on gasoline stocks, with projected end-of-season inventories of 209.5 million barrels, 8.8 million barrels above last year's level and 1.7 million barrels above the five-year average.

Gasoline and diesel fuel prices fall for a 6th week

The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline decreased four cents from the previous week to $3.61 per gallon as of April 8, 2013, down 33 cents from last year at this time. The U.S. average price has declined 18 cents over the last six weeks. The last time prices declined for six consecutive weeks was October 15, 2012 to November 19, 2012. Prices were lower in all regions of the nation except the Rocky Mountains, where the price is $3.52 per gallon, up three cents from last week. The largest decrease came on the Gulf Coast, where the price dropped five cents to $3.43 per gallon. The East Coast and Midwest prices are both lower by four cents, to $3.59 per gallon and $3.55 per gallon, respectively. Rounding out the regions, the West Coast price is $3.93 per gallon, a decline of two cents.

The national average diesel fuel price decreased two cents to $3.98 per gallon, 17 cents lower than last year at this time. The U.S. average price has decreased 18 cents over the last six weeks. Prices decreased in all regions of the nation except the West Coast, where the price increased less than a penny to remain at $4.12 per gallon. The largest decrease came on the Gulf Coast, where the price declined three cents to $3.89 per gallon. The East Coast and Rocky Mountain prices both declined by two cents and are now $4.01 per gallon and $3.90 per gallon, respectively. Rounding out the regions, the Midwest price is $3.96 per gallon, a drop of one cent.

Propane inventories decline

U.S. propane stocks gained 0.3 million barrels to end at 40.0 million barrels last week, and are 5.4 million barrels (11.9 percent) lower than the same period a year ago. Midwest regional inventories increased by 0.6 million barrels, while Rocky Mountain/West Coast inventories rose by 0.1 million barrels. Gulf Coast inventories dropped by 0.3 million barrels, and East Coast stocks declined by 0.1 million barrels. Propylene non-fuel-use inventories represented 8.9 percent of total propane inventories.

For more information, visit the EIA website.