It's time again for my weekly gasoline update based on data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Rounded to the penny Regular dropped 13 cents and Premium 12 cents. Regular is now at its lowest price since October 2009. Will the price decline in gasoline boost discretionary spending during the holiday season? Stay tuned!
According to GasBuddy.com, Hawaii has the highest cost at $3.69. The highest continental average price is in New York at $2.96. Missouri has the cheapest Regular at $2.22.
How far are we from the interim high prices of 2011 and the all-time highs of 2008? Here's a visual answer.
Click for a larger image
The next chart is a weekly chart overlay of West Texas Intermediate Crude, Brent Crude and unleaded gasoline end-of-day spot prices (GASO). WTIC closed today at 55.41, down 7.61 over the past five sessions.
The volatility in crude oil and gasoline prices has been clearly reflected in recent years in both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE). For additional perspective on how energy prices are factored into the CPI, see What Inflation Means to You: Inside the Consumer Price Index.
The chart below offers a comparison of the broader aggregate category of energy inflation since 2000, based on categories within Consumer Price Index (commentary here).
