Home-heating oil and gasoline are products produced from crude oil. Gasoline is used far more widely than home-heating oil, which is used mainly in the Northeastern U.S. Gasoline is subject to federal and state taxes, while heating oil is not. So, why is home-heating oil more expensive than gasoline? The answer relates to basic economic issues of supply and demand.
Identification
Heating oil is one of several “middle distillate” oil products. Another middle distillate is diesel fuel. Heating oil and gasoline are separate products and are traded in different markets.
Considerations
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, world demand for heating oil has remained high, while the gasoline market has fluctuated more widely. High gasoline surpluses in 2008, for example, lowered prices.
Significance
Refineries, which produce both heating oil and gasoline, have limited capacity. High consumer demand for gasoline, such as in the summer, can postpone production of heating oil.
Effects
Delays in heating-oil production, coupled with costs of transporting it to the Northeast, where most heating oil is consumed, drive up prices.
Example
In summer 2002, refiners responded to high gasoline demand by increasing their production. This lowered heating-oil inventories and raised prices in the winter because of lower supplies.
Geography
Longer, colder winters in the Northeast have increased consumer demand for heating oil, keeping prices high.
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About the Author
Shane Hall is a writer and research analyst with more than 20 years of experience. His work has appeared in "Brookings Papers on Education Policy," "Population and Development" and various Texas newspapers. Hall has a Doctor of Philosophy in political economy and is a former college instructor of economics and political science.