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United States gas costs lower this year ahead of Labor Day, EIA states

U.S. gasoline costs were considerably lower than in 2015 heading into the weekend of the Labor Day federal holiday on Monday, which ends the U.S. summertime driving season, the U.S. Energy Info Administration (EIA) stated on Thursday.

The retail price for regular gas in the U.S. averaged $ 3.31 per gallon on Aug. 26, down about 13% from a year previously.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The EIA said its price quotes show demand is greater heading into the Labor Day weekend this year than last. Its newest data, which covers the week ended Aug. 23, showed U.S. gasoline demand of 9.3 million barrels a day - the highest for August given that 2022.

However, once the summer season driving season ends it anticipates need to be weaker than in 2015 which needs to keep fuel costs lower on average in the months ahead.

CONTEXT

Costs at the pump have been lower due to weak development in global and U.S. petroleum product demand, continued petroleum production growth from nations beyond OPEC+, and China's. slowing economy, the EIA stated in its report.

A series of refinery failures in the U.S. Midwest triggered. local fuel prices to surge to more than 20% above the. national average from July 22 to Aug. 5.

BY THE NUMBERS

Fuel in U.S. inventories presently sits at 221 million. barrels about 3% higher than this time in 2015, EIA information. revealed.

The Brent crude oil price on Aug. 26, 2024 was down 4% from. the very same time in 2015, 2024, the EIA stated. The EIA approximated. that crude rates contributed 55% to the cost of gasoline since. June.

(source: Reuters)