February 12,
2010 – Diesel prices also dropped for the
third consecutive week, with the national average
falling a nickel to $2.78 per gallon although it was
$0.54 above a year ago. Diesel prices fell in all
regions of the country as the East Coast dropped a
nickel to $2.83 per gallon. In the Midwest and on the
Gulf Coast, the averages decreased nearly six cents to
$2.73 and $2.74 per gallon, respectively. The Rocky
Mountain price slipped two cents to $2.80 per gallon. A
drop of four cents took the average on the West Coast to
$2.88 per gallon, while the average in California
slipped four cents to $2.95 per gallon.
For the third week in a row, the
U.S. average price for regular gasoline declined.
Settling at $2.66 per gallon, the average fell more than
four cents but was $0.77 above last year. On the East
Coast, the price slipped almost four cents to $2.69 per
gallon. The average in the Midwest dropped the most of
any region, tumbling six cents to $2.56 per gallon. The
average on the Gulf Coast remained the lowest in the
country, dropping about a nickel to $2.54 per gallon.
The smallest decline took place in the Rocky Mountains
where the price dipped less than a penny to $2.62 per
gallon. The West Coast average fell three cents to $2.91
per gallon and the price in California slipped three
cents to $2.98 per gallon.
Propane Stocks Experience Another
Drop: The Nation’s primary supply of propane was
drawn down by about 15.6 million barrels during January,
a volume that was more than 31 percent above the most
recent 5-year average of nearly 11.9 million barrels.
Inventories of propane fell again, by 3.0 million
barrels, bringing the U.S. total to 33.9 million barrels
as of January 29, 2010. The Midwest region led the way
with the largest weekly decline of 1.5 million barrels.
The Gulf Coast regional stocks drew 0.8 million barrels,
while the East Coast and Rocky Mountain/West Coast
regions declined 0.5 and 0.2 million barrels,
respectively. Propylene non-fuel use inventories
increased their share of total propane/propylene stocks
from 8.4 percent to 8.6 percent.
The average residential propane
price rose 0.7 cent per gallon to reach 268.2 cents per
gallon. This was an increase of 35.8 cents per gallon
compared to the same period last year. Wholesale propane
prices increased 2.3 cents per gallon to reach 145.6
cents per gallon. This was an increase of 49.2 cents per
gallon when compared to the February 2, 2009 price of
96.4 cents per gallon.
