Energy Tomorrow Blog

economy  crude-oil-production 

Dean Foreman
Posted April 19, 2018

American consumers take a keen interest in energy prices, for the health of their pocketbooks as well as their livelihoods and security. More than 10.3 million people directly or indirectly support the industry, and tens of millions more people own or work for businesses that depend on having abundant and affordable energy.

What happens in energy markets also is important to our business literacy and understanding of how the United States’ role in global commerce has evolved thanks to the energy renaissance. Not so long ago, many energy-intensive U.S. industries were hollowed out as jobs moved offshore. Thanks to American innovation, today the high availability and low prices of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil have stimulated demand and investment while also helping to improve efficiency and return energy-related CO₂ emissions to near their 25-year lows.

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crude-oil-prices  gasoline-prices  supply  consumers 

Dean Foreman
Posted April 2, 2018

The summer driving season is arriving, so it’s a good time to take stock of recent market dynamics that have raised per-barrel costs for crude oil and consequently gasoline and diesel fuel.

Nationwide, the American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that average prices currently are $2.64 per gallon for gasoline (up from $2.54 a month ago) and $2.95 per gallon for diesel fuel (unchanged from last month). While there is nothing particularly special about these figures from an economic perspective, consumers take notice when fuel prices are on the rise. Let’s look at the factors that have affected pump prices in recent years.

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crude-oil  oil-markets 

Dean Foreman
Posted March 15, 2018

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently noted that for the first time in since 2008, S&P 500 Index’s implied volatility briefly surpassed that of crude oil in February. In this context, “volatility” is a measure of the rate and magnitude of variations in prices. EIA’s observation could be important if it suggests stock prices are about to fall, like they did during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

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liquefied-natural-gas  lng-exports  innovation  trade 

Dean Foreman
Posted March 12, 2018

Low U.S. natural gas prices have spurred liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and major petrochemical projects that have become a springboard for U.S. jobs, wages, housing, education and services – everything that comes with major new capital projects and their broad-based boost to the economy. An important corollary is that U.S. technological innovation is translating into innovative business practices that are helping to increase the global trade, volumes and liquidity of natural gas markets while also advancing environmental goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector. 

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lng-exports  natural-gas  consumers  economic-growth 

Dean Foreman
Posted February 28, 2018

In the first API Chart of the Month, we looked at historical U.S. trade in oil and natural gas. This month, let’s examine global liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, which increasingly have helped to anchor U.S. natural gas production and reinvigorate local jobs, wages, housing, education and services – everything that comes with major new capital projects and their broad-based boost to the economy.

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oil-and-natural-gas-production  refining-and-distribution  economic-impacts 

Dean Foreman
Posted February 16, 2018

U.S. crude oil production scored a perfect “10” in January – make that 10.2, to be precise, as in 10.2 million barrels per day (mbd). That record production, combined with a new high for refinery throughput and 6.3 mbd of crude oil and refined product exports, narrowed the price difference between U.S. and international crude prices last month and underscored the global impact of U.S. energy. All of this data and more may be found in API’s Monthly Statistical Report for January. 

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state-of-the-union  trade  oil-and-natural-gas  us-energy-security 

Dean Foreman
Posted January 30, 2018

For the first installment of my API Chart of the Month series, let’s look at a pair of charts that show the strengthening of U.S. trade positions for petroleum – crude oil and refined products – and natural gas – supported by trade pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This is especially timely given the possibility trade will come up during tonight’s State of the Union address. 

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api-monthly-statistical-report  oil-and-natural-gas 

Dean Foreman
Posted January 26, 2018

API’s Monthly Statistical Report (MSR) is a goldmine of information about our industry – and now the public can access it for free. Responding to new and evolving marketplace needs, API is now sharing the MSR free of charge on its website beginning this month. The report includes analysis of recent developments for major products, imports, refineries and inventories – accompanied by API graphs.

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electricity  natural-gas  infrastructure  pipelines  electric-grid  prices 

Dean Foreman
Posted January 12, 2018

U.S. infrastructure promises to be a top priority for the Trump administration in 2018. In his State of American Energy keynote address, API President and CEO Jack Gerard highlighted how resistance to infrastructure development has left New Englanders with some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, particularly so through extreme winters. 

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economic-growth  oil-and-natural-gas  technology  energy-policy 

Dean Foreman
Posted January 11, 2018

Metropolitan areas that are near natural gas, oil and mining activity have been exceptionally productive and able to sustain high productivity over time, according to a recent Brookings Institution study. While overall U.S. productivity has continued to slow, metro area participation in the energy and technology booms has become a precursor of high productivity and growth.

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