DES MOINES – The price of global crude oil fell $4.12 per barrel on the West Texas Intermediate, currently priced at $68.28. Brent crude dropped $3.77 per barrel, currently priced at $72.65.

Crude Oil Summary

The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $4.12 per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $68.28.

Brent crude oil fell $3.77 and is currently priced at $72.65.

One year ago WTI crude sold for $46.40 and Brent crude was at $47.92.

Motor Fuels

As of Tuesday, July 17, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.73 across Iowa according to AAA. This is $.01 lower than last week and $.55 higher than one year ago. The national average on Tuesday was $2.87, holding steady at last week’s price.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were unchanged from last week’s price with a statewide average of $3.10. One year ago diesel prices averaged $2.36 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is $.07 less than the national average of $3.17.

Wholesale ethanol prices were up a penny from last week’s price, currently at $1.40.

The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.98 for U87-E10, $2.19 for Unleaded 87 (clear), ULSD#2 is at $2.16, ULSD#1 is at $2.34, and E-70 is priced at $1.68 per gallon.

Heating Fuels

Propane prices were $.04 lower than last month’s prices for a statewide average of $1.23 per gallon. Home heating oil remained the same as last month’s figures, ending with a statewide average of $2.58. Natural Gas prices fell $.06 at the Henry Hub reporting site and ended the week at $2.78/MMbtu.

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