The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly data on diesel and gasoline retail prices for the week ended December 2, 2019. Price movements were modest. Gasoline prices declined by 0.4 cents/gallon, while diesel prices rose by 0.4 cents/gallon. National average prices for gasoline were $2.575/gallon, which was 12.4 cents/gallon above where they were in the same week one year ago. Until last week, gasoline prices had been below their levels from last year. On a national average basis, retail prices for diesel averaged $3.07/gallon, which was 13.7 cents/gallon lower than they were in the same week last year.

Futures Prices and Retail Price Outlook

During the week November 25-November 29, 2019, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures prices rose by $0.21/barrel (0.4%.) Gasoline futures prices rose by 0.66 cents/gallon (0.4%.) Diesel futures prices rose by 1.54 cents/gallon (0.8%.) The week included the Thanksgiving Day holiday. The relationship between futures prices and retail prices is not immediate or one-for-one. Last week’s futures prices rose modestly, which would suggest that gasoline and diesel retail prices could rise slightly in the coming week. However, crude and product futures prices dropped after Thanksgiving, based on lack of unity within the OPEC+ group concerning the production cut agreement, coupled with a potential setback in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. This is likely to reverse the potential increase in retail prices.

Retail Diesel Prices

For the current week ended December 2nd, retail diesel prices rose by 0.4 cents to arrive at an average price of $3.07/gallon. Retail diesel prices had been below the $3/gallon mark until the attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities in mid-September, but they have remained steadily above the $3/gallon mark since then. Leading up to this event, between mid-October 2018 and late-January 2019, retail diesel prices fell for fourteen consecutive weeks. During those fourteen weeks, the price decline totaled 42.9 cents/gallon. From February through April, diesel prices crept back up by 20.4 cents/gallon. The month of May brought a modest reversal in the upward trend in diesel prices. During the five weeks of June including the week ended July 1st, diesel prices fell more substantially, declining by 10.9 cents/gallon. For the current week ended December 2nd, diesel prices rose in PADDs 1, 2 and 3, while falling in PADDs 4 and 5. The national average price for the week was 13.7 cents/gallon below where it was during the same week last year.

In the East Coast PADD 1, diesel prices rose by 0.5 cents to arrive at an average price of $3.059/gallon. Within PADD 1, New England prices rose by 1.5 cents to average $3.078/gallon. Central Atlantic diesel prices declined slightly by 0.1 cent to average $3.246/gallon. Lower Atlantic prices increased by 0.7 cents to arrive at an average price of $2.928/gallon. PADD 1 prices were 17.0 cents/gallon below their levels for the same week last year.

In the Midwest PADD 2 market, retail diesel prices rose by 1.3 cents to average $2.982/gallon. This was the largest price increase among the PADDs. Prices were 13.5 cents/gallon below their level for the same week last year. PADD 2 joined PADD 3 during the week ended June 17 in having diesel prices fall below $3/gallon. These two PADDs remain the only ones with prices below the $3/gallon mark.

In the Gulf Coast PADD 3, retail diesel prices rose by 0.3 cents to arrive at an average of $2.779/gallon. PADD 3 continues to have the lowest diesel prices among the PADDs, currently 29.1 cents below the U.S. average. Prices were 21.0 cents lower than for the same week in the previous year.

In the Rocky Mountains PADD 4 market, retail diesel prices declined by 0.5 cents to settle at an average of $3.241/gallon. PADD 4 prices were 5.0 cents lower than for the same week in the prior year.

In the West Coast PADD 5 market, retail diesel prices fell by 1.6 cents to average $3.704/gallon. This was the largest price drop among the PADDs. PADD 5 prices were 1.0 cent above their level from last year. Prices excluding California fell by 0.5 cents to arrive at an average of $3.382/gallon. This price was 2.4 cents below the retail price for the same week last year. California diesel prices fell by 2.3 cents to arrive at an average price of $3.960/gallon. Until the week ended June 24, California had been the only major market where diesel prices were above $4/gallon, where they had been for nine weeks. California prices retreated below $4/gallon from July through October, but prices rose above $4/gallon again during the first three weeks of November. California diesel prices were 3.8 cents higher than they were at the same week last year. It is the only major submarket where diesel retail prices are above last year’s levels.

Retail Gasoline Prices

U.S. retail gasoline prices fell by 0.4 cents to average $2.575/gallon during the week ended December 2. Prices fell in PADDs 3, 4 and 5, while rising in PADDs 1 and 2. Retail prices for the current week were 12.4 cents per gallon higher than they were one year ago. Last week may have marked a turning point if price strength continues, because until then, gasoline prices had been below their levels of last year.

Gasoline prices hit a peak of $2.903/gallon during the week ended October 8, 2018. Prices then slid downward for fourteen weeks in a row, shedding a total of 66.6 cents per gallon. In the next seventeen weeks, prices marched back up by 66.0 cents/gallon. Prices came very close to the peak they hit in early October. However, the months of May and the June brought an easing of prices amounting to 23.3 cents per gallon. The week ended July 1st reversed that downward trend and sent prices up once again.

For the current week ended December 2, East Coast PADD 1 gasoline retail prices rose by 1.6 cents to average $2.478/gallon. The average price was 5.6 cents/gallon above where it was during the same week last year. Within PADD 1, New England prices increased by 0.5 cents to average $2.537/gallon. Central Atlantic market prices declined by 0.3 cents, settling at an average of $2.606/gallon. Prices in the Lower Atlantic market rose by 3.2 cents to average $2.383/gallon.

In the Midwest PADD 2 market, retail gasoline prices rose by 2.1 cents to average $2.424/gallon. PADD 2 prices for the current week were 22.6 cents/gallon higher than they were for the same week last year.

In the Gulf Coast PADD 3 market, gasoline prices declined by 1.3 cents to average $2.225/gallon. PADD 3 continues to have the lowest average prices among the PADDs, currently 35.0 cents/gallon below the average U.S. price. Prices for the week were 10.2 cents higher than for the same week last year.

In the Rocky Mountains PADD 4 market, gasoline pump prices eased by 0.8 cents to settle at an average price of $2.817/gallon. This week’s PADD 4 prices were 10.0 cents higher than at the same time last year.

In the West Coast PADD 5 market, retail gasoline prices dropped significantly by 6.4 cents to settle at $3.407/gallon. This was the most significant price decline among the PADDs. Prices excluding California fell by 2.7 cents to average $3.104/gallon, which was 5.9 cents/gallon above last year’s price. California prices dropped sharply by 7.9 cents to average $3.674/gallon. California prices rose dramatically in late September and early October, hitting levels above $4/gallon, and recently have been retreating. California prices were 27.5 cents per gallon above their levels from the same week last year. Until three weeks ago, PADD 5 had been the only PADD where prices were higher than they were one year ago. As of the week ended December 2, average retail gasoline prices in all PADDs are higher than they were last year.