DES MOINES – Wholesale ethanol prices dropped $.06, closing at $1.48 per gallon.

Crude Oil Summary

The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $1.52 per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $48.37.

Brent crude oil was up $2.21 and is currently priced at $52.54.

One year ago WTI crude sold for $48.10 and Brent crude was at $48.70.

Motor Fuels

As of Tuesday, Aug. 22nd, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.30 across Iowa according to AAA.  This is down a penny from last week and $.06 higher than one year ago.  The national average on Tuesday was $2.34, down a penny from last week’s price. 

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were up a penny with a statewide average of $2.51.   One year ago diesel prices averaged $2.35 in Iowa.   The current Iowa diesel average is $.02 lower than the national average of $2.53.

Wholesale ethanol prices were down $.06 from last week’s price, currently at $1.48. 

The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.54 for U87-E10, $1.74 for Unleaded 87 (clear), ULSD#2 is at $1.67, ULSD#1 is at $1.85, and E-70 is priced at $1.66 per gallon.

Heating Fuels

Propane prices were up $.02 from last month’s prices for a statewide average of $1.13 per gallon.  Home heating oil rose $.14 from last month’s figures, ending with a statewide average of $2.07.  Natural Gas prices are up $.08 at the Henry Hub reporting site and ended the week at $3.01/ MMbtu.

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