DES MOINES – The price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $3.87 per barrel this week, currently priced at $71.27. Brent crude oil rose $4.26 per barrel, currently priced at $77.17.

Crude Oil Summary

The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $3.87 per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $71.27.

Brent crude oil rose $4.26 and is currently priced at $77.17.

One year ago WTI crude sold for $45.88 and Brent crude was at $47.06.

Motor Fuels

As of Tuesday, May 8, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.71 across Iowa according to AAA. This is up $.02 from last week and $.19 higher than one year ago. The national average on Tuesday was $2.83, up $.02 from last week’s price.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa rose $.02 from last week’s price with a statewide average of $3.04. One year ago diesel prices averaged $2.47 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is $.05 less than the national average of $3.09.

Wholesale ethanol prices rose $.03 from last week’s price, currently at $1.47.

The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.02 for U87-E10, $2.23 for Unleaded 87 (clear), ULSD#2 is at $2.27, ULSD#1 is at $2.47, and E-70 is priced at $1.71 per gallon.

Heating Fuels

Natural Gas prices fell $.03 at the Henry Hub reporting site and ended the week at $2.72/MMbtu.

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