U.S. fuel market snapshot
Fuel prices and energy data, explained.
A clear look at fuel prices, oil markets and the supply changes that help shape prices at the pump.
Latest EIA data loading
Prices
U.S. average gasoline and diesel prices, plus two widely followed crude oil prices.
Spot vs. futures
A spot price is a price for oil available now. A futures price is the price of a contract for delivery later.
The spot price is a current cash market reference price. It helps show what oil is worth right now.
A futures price is the price of a contract for delivery in a future month. It reflects expectations as well as current conditions.
Why pump prices move
These weekly numbers show where fuel supply is gaining or losing cushion. That is one reason pump prices can move even when crude oil gets most of the headlines.
Production data help show how much domestic crude supply is reaching the market. The latest EIA reading loads with the live data.
Crude inventories show the supply cushion between production, imports and refinery demand. The latest EIA reading loads with the live data.
Refineries turn crude oil into gasoline and diesel. The latest utilization reading loads with the live data.
Gasoline inventories are an important supply cushion close to the pump. The latest EIA reading loads with the live data.
Imports & exports
The U.S. both imports and exports oil and petroleum products, so domestic production is only part of the supply picture.
Crude imports supplement U.S. oil production and help supply U.S. refineries.
U.S. refineries sell some gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products overseas, so demand outside the U.S. can affect supply here.
Net figures combine imports and exports. A positive net import number means more came in than went out. A positive net export number means more went out than came in.
Why gas costs what it does
Crude oil is the starting cost, but refining, wholesale fuel prices, transportation, taxes and station costs all affect what you pay.
Divide the barrel price by 42 to get a rough crude cost per gallon. This is only a comparison. One barrel does not produce 42 gallons of gasoline.
The difference between the wholesale gasoline price and the crude equivalent above. A wider spread means more cost is being added between crude oil and wholesale gasoline.
This is a Gulf Coast wholesale gasoline benchmark. Wholesale prices can move before the national average price at the pump.
This is the U.S. average price at the pump. It includes the wholesale fuel price plus transportation, storage, taxes and retailer costs.
