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Source: Lizzy Gurdus, CNBC
Tightening oil supplies across the globe have pushed prices of the commodity higher since the beginning of 2019.
But while crude prices are still showing positive momentum, analysts are still worried about volatility in the market.
As of Friday, West Texas Intermediate Crude ended trading fairly flat, up less than 0.5%. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets raised its 2019 forecast for Brent Crude to $75.
Petroleum Prices
Diesel and Gasoline (U.S. Averages)
| Units | Current Price | 1 Week Ago | Change vs. 1 Week Ago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | per gallon | $3.118 | $3.093 | +0.025 |
| Gasoline | per gallon | $2.828 | $2.745 | +0.083 |
Crude Oil & Natural Gas
| Units | Current Price | 1 Week Ago | Change vs. 1 Week Ago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Texas Intermediate Crude (Nymex) |
per barrel | $63.72 | $64.08 | -0.36 |
| Brent Crude (ICE) |
per barrel | $71.34 | $70.51 | +0.83 |
| Natural Gas (Nymex) |
MMBtu | $2.59 | $2.69 | -0.10 |
Lumber Prices
Framing Lumber & Plywood Products
| Current | 1 Week Ago | 2 Weeks Ago | Change vs. 1 Week Ago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber – Random Lengths | $353 | $358 | $360 | -$5 |
| Panels – Random Lengths | $361 | $366 | $370 | -$5 |
| Board Feet (per 1000) | $348 | $345.50 | $365.70 | +2.50 |
Latest Jobs Report
The economy added 196,000 jobs in March 2019, which is a big increase compared to February’s disappointing report of only 20,000 jobs added versus the previous month.
The average wage rose 3.2% versus a year ago, to $27.70 per hour.
U.S. Unemployment Rates
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.0% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| February | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| March | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.5% |
| April | – | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| May | – | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| June | – | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| July | – | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| August | – | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| September | – | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| October | – | 3.7% | 4.1% |
| November | – | 3.7% | 4.1% |
| December | – | 3.9% | 4.1% |
Sources: Random Lengths, EIA, Trading Economics, Bloomberg
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