by John Keller | May 25, 2011 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Optimization, Fuel Pricing Strategy
The fuel price speculative bubble is over, and the market is correcting now, according to Stephen Schork, president of Pennsylvania-based energy consultant The Schork Group Inc.
Bloomberg Business Week today reported that pump prices were $1.66 a gallon over crude oil futures in New York on May 6, the largest premium since September 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That compares with an average of 95 cents in the past five years. In 2008, it took two months for the gap to return to average.
The $4 per gallon U.S. gas prices are deterring motorists from driving, causing a 2% decrease in demand compared to last year, and likely a lower fuel prices by July. While gasoline prices may not be down by Memorial Day on May 30, history suggests they will be lower by July 4, when 32 million typically take to the roads for the Independence Day holiday.
From a Fuel Price Management perspective, that means volumes may be lower in May, but are likely to increase just as wholesale costs decrease, along with retail fuel price averages.
Read the complete Bloomberg article here.
by John Keller | May 13, 2011 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Price Optimization, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
There’s a great MSNBC news article out today discussing the role of the US Federal Government in helping fuel prices trend downward. The key takeaway for the Fuel Price Manager is that fuel prices are going to continue their downward trend of recent days. From a Fuel Price Management perspective, that means it’s a critical moment to invest in fuel pricing solutions that allow the continued monitoring of wholesale costs, and the competitor fuel price reaction. As cost drops, now is the time to increase retail fuel profits, while carefully managing the gradual fuel price decreases that the consumer expects.
News agencies are making it common public knowledge that retail fuel prices are quick to rise when wholesale costs increase, and slow to drop when wholesale costs decrease. But these agencies are setting customer expectations for retail fuel prices to drop over the coming months. That means people will be looking for price decreases, and will be quick to jump on them with a fill-up when they see a well-advertised price.
Here are highlights from the article:
- Oil prices have peaked and appear to be coming down.
- After flooding the financial system with cash for more than two years in an effort to stabilize financial markets and economy, the Fed is getting ready to turn off the taps. The anticipation is one reason oil prices are coming back down.
- For all of the complex forces acting on the global oil market, the dollar has a powerful sway for the very simple reason that oil is priced in dollars. The dollar has begun showing signs of strength. Just as a weaker dollar helped send oil prices surging, a stronger dollar is reining them in.
- The forces that drove prices higher seem to have reversed course. Global growth seems to be slowing. The dollar is strengthening. And the inflation threat from the Fed’s easy-money policies may be easing.
- Until the outlook for oil prices becomes clearer, expect more daily price swings that will send even the most seasoned traders looking for cover.
The full article may be found here.
by John Keller | Apr 12, 2011 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News
In today’s US Energy Information Adminstration weekly fuel price report, the USEIA revealed an $.11 increase for the national average price of Unleaded Regular fuel. The US national average retail fuel price of unleaded gasoline now sits at $3.79/gallon, a gallon of midgrade rose to $3.90, and a gallon of premium rose to $4.02. That’s the first time the national average for premium fuel has been priced above $4 for years. These are the highest fuel price levels since September 2008.
The regional areas hit hardest were the Gulf Coast and the Midwest, where the average price for unleaded rose $.12 to $3.66 and $3.90/gallon respectively. The lowest increase of any region was $.07 in the Rocky Mountains, where a gallon of unleaded fuel averages $3.57.
As for individual states, Minnesota had the largest fuel price increase of the week, where prices rose $.23/gallon for unleaded, with an average price of $3.82/gallon.
The average price of Unleaded in California remained the highest in the nation, reaching $4.20/gallon. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, a gallon of Unleaded is priced the highest in any major city, at $4.23 and $4.22 per gallon.
by John Keller | Mar 14, 2011 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Retail Fuel Margins
In today’s US Energy Information Adminstration weekly fuel price report, the USEIA revealed another $.04 increase. The US national average retail fuel price of unleaded gasoline now sits at $3.56/gallon, a gallon of midgrade rose to $3.69, and a gallon of premium rose to $3.80. Fuel prices have now risen $.42 in the last month, and are now at their highest level since September 2008.
The regional area hit hardest was the West Coast, where the average price for unleaded rose $.08 to $3.84. Next was the Rocky Mountain region where unleaded rose $.06 to an average price of $3.35, though fuel prices are still the lowest there than in any other region. The lowest increase of any region was $.03 in the Gulf Coast, where a gallon of unleaded is $3.43.
As for individual states, Ohio had the largest fuel price increase of the week, where prices rose $.09/gallon for unleaded, with an average price of $3.54/gallon.
In Los Angeles and San Francisco, a gallon of Unleaded is priced at $3.97 and $3.96 per gallon. Mid-grade in these cities is now priced above $4.00 for the first time in recent history, at $4.07/gallon.
by John Keller | Mar 11, 2011 | Fuel Pricing Strategy, Retail Fuel Margins
Alon USA in their management reports revealed their retail fuel margin results for Q4 2010 and for the entire 2010 fiscal year.
Management reported retail fuel margins for the fourth quarter were 14.8 cents per gallon, versus 10.8 cents in the fourth quarter of 2009. Retail fuel margins for the entire 2010 fiscal year hit 12.9 cents per gallon, compared to 13.9 cents per gallon in FY2009.
The annual fuel volume per site per month was 39,000 gallons. According to NACS, the average c-store sells 121,000 gallons of fuel per month annually. That means Alon stores sold about one-third of the national monthly average.
The total number of stores at the end of the fiscal year was 304, four stores fewer than in 2009. Alon USA is the largest 7-11 Licensee in the US, operating sites across the southwest under the FINA brand.
by John Keller | Mar 10, 2011 | Fuel Pricing Strategy, Retail Fuel Margins
Delek US Holdings in their management reports revealed their retail fuel margin results for Q4 2010 and for the entire 2010 fiscal year.
Retail fuel margins for the fourth quarter were 13.1 cents per gallon, versus 12.9 cents in the fourth quarter of 2009. Retail fuel volumes for Q4 decreased approximately 5 percent from the same quarter a year ago to 103.1 million gallons. But with the decrease in the average number of stores from 450 to 417, that equates to 82,333 gallons per store per month on average, slightly up from last year.
Management reported Retail Fuel margins for the entire 2010 fiscal year hit $.161 per gallon, compared to $.136 per gallon in FY2009. The annual fuel volume per store per month was 82,500 gallons. According to NACS, the average c-store sells 121,000 gallons of fuel per month annually. That means Delek stores sold about 30% less than the national monthly average.
Delek closed the fiscal year with 412 sites in operation throughout Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Virginia. Sites are branded under the name MAPCO Express®, MAPCO Mart®, East Coast®, Fast Food and Fuel™, Favorite Markets®, Delta Express® and Discount Food Mart™.