Gasoline Approaches 2021 Lows
US gasoline futures dropped toward $1.80 per gallon, approaching their lowest level since February 2021, driven by declining crude oil prices, ample inventories, and weakening demand. The decline in crude was reinforced by the EIA’s report showing a 3.5 million-barrel build in US crude inventories for the week ending October 10th, raising concerns about soft demand amid ongoing US–China trade tensions. Gasoline inventories, meanwhile, drew 267,000 barrels to just below the five-year average, a much smaller draw than the prior week’s 1.6 million barrels, indicating supply remains sufficient. The EIA also noted that gasoline demand has slipped to a four-month low as autumn sets in, and projects that US drivers will spend the lowest share of disposable income on gasoline in two decades, with costs expected to remain below 2% of income in 2025.