by John Keller | May 16, 2014 | Fuel Pricing Strategy, Fuel Software, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
The OPIS report today showed the average retail fuel margin across the US improved for the fourth straight week, rising $0.037 per gallon to $0.248 per gallon.
The year to date average broke $0.16 per gallon for the first time since March 7, rising $0.005 to reach $0.161 per gallon. The quarter to date average broke $0.16 per gallon for the first time this quarter, hitting $0.166 per gallon. The six week average now sits at $0.168 per gallon, the highest level since February 21 of this year.
This week last year, the retail fuel margin average was $0.123 per gallon, a level where it remained the following week. That means the average retail fuel margin is now twice that of last year.
These are good times for the fuel retailer, where margins are gaining strength heading into Memorial Day weekend with its historical increase of volumes. But that doesn’t mean the fuel analyst can rest easy. There are still pennies to be gained and lost, and as volumes increase to peak levels during the upcoming vacation season, every strategic decision is amplified. You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Implementing a fuel price management solution like PriceAdvantage where you can quickly measure and analyze the wins and losses of the day, and then adjust strategies quickly, is critical to making the highest profits of the season.
by John Keller | May 9, 2014 | Fuel Software, Industry News, PriceAdvantage, Retail Fuel Margins
The OPIS report today revealed that the average retail fuel margin across the US jumped by $0.056 per gallon this week. That’s the largest jump since January 10. That’s also the third consecutive weekly increase. The average retail fuel margin is now $0.211 per gallon, the highest of the year, and the first time above $0.20 per gallon in 2014.
The year to date average is $0.156 per gallon, while both the quarter to date and the last six week averages are $0.152 per gallon.
The average retail fuel margin last year at this time was $0.144, so we are now $0.067 per gallon above this week in 2013. This is the first week we’re above the comparable week in 2013 since February 21.
Last year at this time there were two more retail fuel margin drops, so hopefully we can keep up the trend we’re seeing this year and make up for all those weeks when we were below the margins of last year.
by John Keller | May 6, 2014 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Software, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
According to an article in Convenience Store Decisions, for the first time since February, the average fuel price for regular gasoline across the US is expected to drop. The author of the article is Brian Milne, Energy Editor for Schneider Electric, and he attributes the prediction to sliding gasoline futures, a drop in secondary wholesale costs, refiners returning units to service after an extensive turnaround season, a higher run rate at U.S. refineries, a continued growth in domestic fuel supply amid the boom in shale oil, and new pipeline capacity to the Gulf Coast.
However, since the US Energy Department announced there will be federal regional gasoline reserves created near New York Harbor and in New England this year in response to the disruption caused by Superstorm Sandy, Mr. Milne wrote that gasoline prices will find “upside pricing support” this summer.
The full article can be found here.
What does it mean to fuel analysts if this prediction proves true? It means retail fuel relief for the first time since February, and an opportunity for fuel retailers to catch up on their retail fuel margins. It means fuels demand possibly beyond the typical seasonal increases we see each summer. And it means some reassurance that if we get hit with another superstorm this year, we’ll be able to make it through without the dramatic impact we saw with Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
by John Keller | May 2, 2014 | Fuel Software, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
According to the latest OPIS report, the average retail fuel margin across the US rose $0.01 per gallon this week to $0.155 per gallon. That’s the second consecutive margin increase returning the average back to levels last seen one month ago.
The year to date average is $0.153 and the quarter to date average is $0.140 per gallon. The six week average is $0.145.
The current average retail margin is now $0.007 less than this week last year. The weekly fuel margin in 2014 has been below 2013 every week since February 28. The gap between this year’s and last year’s margins is now the smallest since that week.
We look forward to the margin trend line of 2014 crossing above the 2013 trend line next week.
by John Keller | Apr 28, 2014 | Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
The latest OPIS report shows the average weekly retail fuel margin across the US increased $0.024 per gallon, reversing a three week trend of decreases that started April 4. The average retail fuel margin across the US now stands at $0.145 per gallon, with the year to date average at $0.153 per gallon, and the quarter to date average at $0.137 per gallon. The six week average is now $0.143 per gallon, unchanged from last week.
The average retail fuel margin is now $0.052 below this week last year. But then through May 24 of last year, the average retail fuel margin dropped $0.073 per gallon to $0.124 per gallon. Hopefully this year the seasonal drops in average retail margins are behind us and we can start to see a healthy trend.
by John Keller | Apr 18, 2014 | Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
The OPIS fuel margin report this week revealed that the average retail fuel margin across the US dipped $0.006 per gallon to $0.121 per gallon. That’s the third consecutive decline. The average retail fuel margin has now declined $0.047 per gallon since the beginning of this quarter.
The year to date average continues its drop since the high point on February 7, when the average retail fuel margin was $0.178. The year to date average is now $0.154 per gallon. The six week average is $0.143, the lowest since March 21, and the second lowest of the year.
This same Friday in 2013, we had the retail fuel margin average at $0.234 per gallon, $.113 per gallon higher than today. However, it was this time last year when retail fuel margins took a dive over the course of four weeks, dropping to $0.123, which turned out to be the lowest of the quarter. We’ll see if this year we can fend off any repeat of that margin trend.
