U.S. Refineries Eye Week of Strong Gasoline Demand With Caution

Weakness in jet fuel, distillates push producers to gasoline
2021 U.S. summer gasoline consumption may not match 2019 level

Prices at a gas station in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Thursday, July 8, 2021. According to AAA, the average price of regular gasoline in California is $4.308, with some gas stations nearing $6 per gallon.Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Barbara J. Powell and Jeffrey Bair

July 9, 2021 at 7:42 PM UTC

Updated on

July 10, 2021 at 12:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Should U.S. refiners get excited about one week of record demand for gasoline?

With jet fuel consumption still weak and distillate stocks rising despite strong domestic demand, refiners must rely on gasoline as their summer lifeline. The first of the season’s two big driving holidays, July 4, generated strong demand for the motor fuel. Now, refiners need that momentum to hold until Labor Day, which this year falls during the first full week in September.