Analysis
The average wholesale propane price on February 13, 2006, had fallen nearly four cents from the previous week to $0.94 per gallon (see the table at the end of this report). 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 17 cents (or 23 percent) higher than the price at this time last year.
Other states in the Midwest Region had comparable wholesale prices ranging from $0.92 to $1.00 per gallon with the region averaging $0.96. States adjacent to Nebraska, such as Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri, had prices of $0.93, $0.96, $0.96, and $0.94, respectively.
With 14.4 million barrels on February 10, the Midwest Region inventory level was above the normal range for this time of year.
Notes: The annual report for the 2004-2005 winter season is available. An archive houses annual reports from previous years.
Heating Season
The Oil Price Information Service collects wholesale propane prices each week for Nebraska and eleven (11) 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 Propane 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.
