US Gasoline Demand Exceeds 2020 Levels for First Time; Still Trails Pre-Pandemic Demand Significantly

Rhea-AI Summary

According to the latest data from Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), U.S. gasoline sales have turned positive year-on-year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. For the week ending March 20, 2021, same-store gasoline sales were up 10.1% compared to 2020 but still 16% below pre-pandemic levels. Regional variations in recovery are significant, with the Southwest surpassing 2020 levels by 15%, while the Southeast lagged at 8.6%. Experts remain cautious about a full recovery due to potential changes in consumer behavior and employment patterns.

Positive

• U.S. gasoline sales increased by 10.1% year-on-year for the week ending March 20, 2021.
• Retail gasoline sales volumes are showing a year-on-year rebound for the first time since COVID-19 began.

Negative

• Same-store gasoline sales remain 16% below pre-pandemic levels.
• There is uncertainty regarding the long-term recovery of gasoline demand due to changes in consumer behavior and employment.

Year-on-year gasoline sales in the United States have moved into positive territory for the first time—on the one-year anniversary of the first major declines that resulted from COVID-induced stay at home orders. However, demand still trails pre-pandemic levels by a considerable margin, according to the latest data from Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO).

OPIS Demand Pro weekly gasoline sales volumes sourced directly from over 26,000 stations in the United States. Week ending March 20, 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020. SOURCE: OPIS by IHS Markit

U.S. gasoline same-store sales in gallons for the week ending March 20, 2021 were 10.1% higher than 2020, according to OPIS Demand, a weekly survey of more than 25,000 fuel stations nationwide.* Nevertheless, same-store gasoline sales were still 16% below pre-pandemic levels.

“The year-on-year increase in fuel demand from March 2020 is certainly welcome news for the recovery of the economy and the beginning of the return to normal life for the American people,” said Brian Norris, executive director of retail fuels, OPIS by IHS Markit. “But the real measure of recovery will be a return to pre-pandemic levels. It’s there that progress remains slow and, looking at gasoline, we still have a long way to go.”

Prior to the week ending March 20, 2021, gasoline volumes had mostly hovered in the range of 15% to 18% below prior-year levels since the start of 2021. The main exception was the week ending February 20, which saw a year-on-year decline of 22.4% due to impacts from Winter Storm Uri.

Retail gasoline sales volumes moving into positive territory compared to prior-year numbers for the week ending March 20 are not due to a major increase in demand but more reflect the massive declines that were seen at the pump during the same period last year. The week ending March 21, 2020 saw volumes trail 2019 levels by 23.6%, the first week in a four-week stretch that saw weekly U.S. gasoline sales volumes plummet to levels not seen since the Nixon Administration was in office in the early 1970s, culminating with volumes 47.5% behind prior-year levels the week ending April 11.

The extent of the current rebound varies by region. The Southwest region surpassed 2020 volumes by 15%. Meanwhile, the Southeastern part of the United States surpassed 2020 levels by only 8.6%, largely due to many states in the Southeast not moving as quickly to mandated stay at home orders as the rest of the country did last year.

The regional disparity in gasoline demand recovery is also apparent when looking at state-level data. California saw some of the earliest declines in gallons sold due to the west coast largely being the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Compared to last year, gasoline sales are up 14.6% in California, however volumes still trail same-week 2019 by 22.7% on a same-store basis. Florida, on the other hand, was not as quick to enact quarantine mandates, and the data paints a very different demand picture. Fuel retailers in Florida saw a much-smaller 6.4% increase versus last year, but only trail demand levels from two years ago by 11.2%.

There is optimism that additional “pent up” demand could be released this summer, with the Biden Administration announcing that every adult in the U.S. will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine no later than May 1.

It is possible that gasoline demand could come close to or even surpass pre-pandemic levels at times. But still to be determined are the lasting impacts to work, lifestyle and consumer habits.

“The logic that gasoline demand will suddenly and permanently return to pre-pandemic levels fails to take into account the lingering effects of unemployment, dramatic cuts in urban, suburban and rural events, and hybrid models for commuting that allow for more people working from home,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis, OPIS by IHS Markit. “Even as the country gets back to normal, we are still to discover what the ‘new normal’ means.”

To learn more about the OPIS Demand Report or OPIS DemandPro, please contact Brian Norris, Executive Director – Retail Data and Product Management at OPIS, at Brian.Norris@ihsmarkit.com.

About OPIS (www.opisnet.com)

Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) provides accurate pricing, real-time news and expert analysis across the global fuel supply chain, including the Spot, Wholesale Rack and Retail markets. OPIS and OPIS PetroChem Wire enable customers to buy and sell oil and gas products with confidence via easy access to transparent data, expert-level customer support, educational events and energy data solutions with Axxis Software and OPIS RetailSuite.

About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)

IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners © 2021 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.

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FAQ

What does the latest OPIS report say about U.S. gasoline sales for INFO?

The OPIS report indicates a 10.1% increase in U.S. gasoline sales year-on-year for the week ending March 20, 2021, although sales are still 16% below pre-pandemic levels.

How do regional gasoline sales compare according to the OPIS data for INFO?

The Southwest region saw a 15% increase in gasoline sales compared to 2020, while the Southeast only increased by 8.6%.

What are the implications of the increase in gasoline sales for IHS Markit INFO?

While the increase is a positive indicator, the sales are still significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, raising concerns about the sustainability of this recovery.