Gas prices in California have risen to $5.26 per gallon, an increase of nearly $0.40 in the past month, and could be further impacted by Tropical Storm Hilary, potentially causing refinery shutdowns and further price increases.
The natural gas market remains stagnant, with little activity and a soft demand, however, there is potential for growth if it breaks above the $3.00 level.
Oil prices edge higher in an uncertain market as US crude futures rise 0.1% to $78.94 a barrel, despite a 2% drop for the week, due to production cuts by major oil producers and a mixed US economy.
Oil prices rose over 1% as the dollar strengthened ahead of a speech by the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve for clues on interest rates, with Brent crude reaching $84.29 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude at $79.92, while a strong dollar and recent inventory draws affected demand and supply.
European and U.S. natural gas prices rose due to concerns over supply from Australia and Norway, with maintenance at Norwegian gas fields and fears of a strike at Chevron's LNG facilities driving uncertainty.
Gas prices in the US are at historically high levels for Labor Day weekend due to factors including OPEC supply cuts and extreme heat affecting refineries, with the national average for regular gas at $3.83 per gallon, just shy of the record set in 2012 at $3.84 per gallon.
The average retail price of regular gasoline in the United States has increased by 6% over the past five weeks, reaching $3.81 per gallon heading into the Labor Day weekend, due to factors such as oil production cuts, low gasoline inventories, and refinery maintenance.
Crude oil prices in the US increased due to a 6.3 million barrel inventory draw, following a massive decline of 10.6 million barrels the previous week, bringing inventories to the lowest in eight months.
GasBuddy predicts a potential spike in gas prices of 50 cents to $1 per gallon in several states, including Minnesota, due to a possible refinery outage.
Gas prices in Kansas and Missouri are expected to increase by 50 cents to $1 per gallon due to a refinery outage, leading to potential retail price hikes in the region.
The average price of gas in Michigan has fallen by 6 cents to $3.63 a gallon, 10 cents less than last month and 22 cents less than last year, but rising oil prices, higher gas demand, and tighter supply may push prices higher.
Gasoline prices in Las Vegas remain above $4 per gallon, with only one station offering a lower price, due to refinery disruptions and price spikes in the Corn Belt and West Coast regions.
Gas and housing prices continue to rise, leading to a 0.6% increase in the federal consumer price index for August and a 3.7% increase for the year, causing concerns about overall inflation and its impact on household budgets.
Gasoline prices in the US have reached a record high for this time of year, posing a challenge to President Joe Biden's fight against inflation.
Gasoline prices are rising due to oil supply cuts in Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as flooding in Libya, but some experts believe that increasing oil prices will not have a significant impact on the US economy and do not expect them to rise much higher in the next year or two due to factors such as increased US oil production, slow global economic growth, and the green energy transition. However, high oil prices can lead to higher inflation, potential recession, and could influence the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, but the impact may not be as severe as in the past, and some experts recommend investing in the energy transition and adopting a more defensive investment strategy.
Oil prices may briefly reach $100 per barrel due to output cuts and geopolitical tensions, but they are expected to decline by the end of the year due to faster supply growth compared to demand growth, according to a Wall Street analyst.
The average price of gasoline in the United States has risen to $3.881 per gallon, compared to $3.678 per gallon a year ago, due to refinery outages in the western United States.
Oil prices reach a 3-month high as OPEC maintains tight supply. Gas prices in the US rise, posing a threat to efforts against inflation.
