by John Keller | Sep 30, 2013 | Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
For the fourth straight week, retail fuel margins across the US have increased week over week according to the latest OPIS report. OPIS reports an increase of $0.113 cents per gallon since August 30.
Retail fuel margins across the US are now at $0.282 per gallon, up $0.042 per gallon from last week. Retail fuel margins are now at their highest levels since July 5, and the second highest levels for all of 2013.
The year to date average now stands at $0.186 per gallon, the highest of the year. The average retail fuel margins for calendar year Q3 finished at $0.207, up slightly from the margins of Q2 which were $0.191 per gallon, but down slightly from the Q1 margins which were $0.212 per gallon. The six week average stands at $0.210 per gallon, the highest since July 12.
From a fuel management perspective, fuel retailers across the US had a strong Q2 according to these OPIS reports. In calendar year 2012, the US retail fuel margins for Q4 averaged $0.230 per gallon. Hopefully history will repeat itself and fuel retailers will finish up 2013 with strong fuel profits.
by John Keller | Sep 21, 2013 | Industry News
According to the latest OPIS report, the US national retail fuel margins increased for the third consecutive week, reaching a healthy average of $0.240 per gallon. The increase this week was enough to uptick the average retail fuel margins for the year to $0.183 per gallon, the highest year to date retail fuel margins of 2013.
The average retail fuel margins across the US for this quarter now stand at $0.201 per gallon and the six week average stands at $0.206 per gallon.
We are now into the second week of the annual transition from summer to winter blends, and with the likelihood of Syrian bombings decreasing, it is reasonable to be optimistic that retail fuel margins will continue upward.
by John Keller | Sep 18, 2013 | Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
The latest OPIS report shows average retail fuels margins across the US have recovered the losses of recent weeks and now stand at $0.211 per gallon. That’s a $0.04 gain this week. Retail fuels margins are higher than they have been in four weeks and are nearly back to the levels of August 16.
Year to date retail fuel margin averages are up slightly to $0.182 per gallon and the average Q2 retail fuel margins are at $0.198 per gallon. The six week average is essentially unchanged at $0.202 per gallon.
Historically this is the time of year when costs start to drop as we transition to the winter blends, offering opportunities for increased fuel margins across the country.
by John Keller | Sep 10, 2013 | Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
The latest OPIS numbers show a $0.002 increase in US average retail fuel margins over last week. The average retail fuel margins across the US are now at $0.171 per gallon. The year to date national average remains at $0.181 per gallon. The Q2 average dipped to $0.196 per gallon. The six week average remained the same at $0.203 per gallon.
The current retail fuel margins are $0.028 higher than last year at this time.
Recently the crude prices have stopped their rising, so hopes are up that margins can remain strong as we finish Q2.
by John Keller | Sep 10, 2013 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News
Both the US Energy Information Administration and the University of Michigan continue to release information about the downward trend of US fuels volumes. The conclusions have a direct impact on the c-store retail fuels marketer because both the US EIA report and the University of Michigan study reveal a continued decrease in the overall retail fuels market size.
The US EIA reports that in 2012, US drivers consumed 50,000 barrels a day less gasoline than in 2011. And in the first half of 2013, US drivers have cut back again, consuming 50,000 barrels a day less gasoline than in 2012. While the US economy continues to improve in 2013, the improved fuel efficiency of vehicles on the US roads more than offsets any expected increase in fuels volume consumption.
According to the University of Michigan study, the average fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the US is now at an all-time high, reaching 24.9 miles per gallon in August. The average fuel economy of 2013 year model vehicles that were sold from October 2012 through August was 24.7 mpg. That makes for an increase of 1.2 miles per gallon above the 2012 year model vehicles. The average fuel economy of new vehicles has increased 19.7% since 2008.
How does this pertain to fuel management? While markets will vary based on population shifts, it is critical that fuel marketers continue to compare their current fuel volumes to six week trends, and year to date trends to last year. Fuel software must provide rich analysis that provides answers quickly so fuel pricing strategies can be continually adjusted. Our customers agree, PriceAdvantage analytics are the best in the business.
by John Keller | Aug 30, 2013 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Strategy, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
According to today’s OPIS report, retail fuel margin averages across the United States fell for the second straight week. This week retail fuel margins decreased $0.018 per gallon and now stand at $0.169 per gallon.
The year to date average dipped slightly to $0.181 per gallon. The Q2 average also slipped, to an average margin of $0.199 per gallon. The six week average stands at $0.203 per gallon and the average margin since Memorial Day is $0.204.
Retail margins this year are $0.025 per gallon higher than this time last year.
With the Syrian conflict in all the news and the rising cost of crude, there was fear of tanking retail fuel margins heading into the Labor Day holiday, but it looks like the c-store retail industry will be able to survive this weekend with reasonable margins and head into the next season with a solid year to date margin average.
