Analysis
The average wholesale heating oil price on December 14, 2009, had fallen ten cents from last week's report to $1.98 per gallon (see the table at the end of this report). Nebraska's average of $1.98 was also the Midwest Region's average. The graph below shows the spread in Nebraska prices from month to month and from this year compared to previous years. This week's average price was 26 cents (or 15 percent) higher than the price a year ago.
The other states surveyed in the Midwest Region had comparable wholesale prices ranging from $1.93 to $2.04 per gallon resulting in a regional average of $1.98. States near in proximity to Nebraska, such as Missouri and Minnesota, had prices of $1.97 and $1.97, respectively.
For the week ending December 11, the Midwest distillate inventory level was in the upper half of the normal range for this time of year at 1.7 million barrels.
Notes: The annual report for the 2008-2009 winter season is available. An archive houses annual reports from previous years.
Heating Season
The Oil Price Information Service collects wholesale heating oil prices each week for Nebraska and twelve (12) other states in the Midwest Region during the heating season (October to March). The Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, uses the prices collected by the Oil Price Information Service to calculate a state average price, a regional average price, and a national average price which can be seen in the report Wholesale Heating Oil Prices by Region and State.
Off Season
Prices are not collected during the off season (April through September).
Midwest Region
For statistical purposes, the Energy Information Administration defines the Midwest region to include the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.