DES MOINES – The price of global crude oil fell $2.48 on the West Texas Intermediate, priced at $46.85.  Brent crude oil dropped $2.11 per barrel, priced at $50.33.

Crude Oil Summary

The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $2.48 per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $46.85.

Brent crude oil was down $2.11 and is currently priced at $50.33.

One year ago WTI crude sold for $46.58 and Brent crude was at $48.27.

Motor Fuels

As of Tuesday, Aug. 15th, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.31 across Iowa according to AAA.  This is the same price as last week and $.15 higher than one year ago.  The national average on Tuesday was $2.35, down a penny from last week’s price. 

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were up a penny with a statewide average of $2.50.   One year ago diesel prices averaged $2.29 in Iowa.   The current Iowa diesel average is $.03 lower than the national average of $2.53.

Wholesale ethanol prices were down $.06 from last week’s price, currently at $1.54. 

The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.54 for U87-E10, $1.73 for Unleaded 87 (clear), ULSD#2 is at $1.69, ULSD#1 is at $1.87, and E-70 is priced at $1.69 per gallon.

Heating Fuels

Natural Gas prices are up $.16 at the Henry Hub reporting site and ended the week at $2.93/ MMbtu.

Continuing throughout the summer months, we will only report retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa once a month.