· Crude Oil Costs:
In February 2013, crude oil price decreased from the same month last year but increased from the previous month. Crude oil price at the New York Mercantile Exchange averaged $95.46 per barrel in February 2013 which was $6.80 per barrel or 6.7% lower compared to the same month last year. Crude oil price was up $0.63 per barrel or 0.7% from January 2013.
· Refinery Processing:
According to the most recent data available, Hawaii’s refineries imported 2.7 million barrels of foreign crude oil in December 2012, down 0.432 million barrels or 13.8% from the same month of 2011. In December 2012, foreign crude oil imports decreased 0.830 million barrels or 23.5% from November 2012.
· Gasoline Pricing:
Compared with the same month last year, in February 2013, Hawaii’s price for regular gasoline increased, although the price of crude oil decreased 6.7%. In February 2013, the national average price for regular gasoline was $3.659 per gallon, up $0.100 per gallon or 2.8% from the same month last year; and up $0.334 per gallon or 10.1% from January 2013.
In February 2013, Hawaii’s price for regular gasoline averaged $4.266 per gallon, which was $0.606 per gallon or 16.6% higher than the national average for the same month.
Hawaii’s February 2013 price for regular gasoline increased $0.040 or 1.0% per gallon from the same month last year, and increased $0.206 per gallon or 5.1% from January 2013. In February 2013, the average regular gasoline prices within the State were as follows: Kauai, $4.624; Oahu, $4.206; Wailuku, $4.300; and Hilo, $4.273.
· Diesel Fuel Pricing:
The February 2013 national average price for diesel was $4.078 per gallon which was an increase of 3.4% from the same month a year ago and an increase of 4.3% from January 2013.
In Hawaii, the average price for diesel in February 2013 was $4.926 per gallon which was $0.847 per gallon or 20.8% higher than the national average.
Hawaii’s February 2013 average price for diesel increased $0.109 per gallon or 2.3% from the same month last year, and increased $0.034 per gallon or 0.7% from January 2013. In February 2013, the average prices per gallon for diesel among Hawaii’s market were as follows: Kauai, $4.953; Oahu, $4.781; Wailuku, $4.839; and Hilo, $5.012.
· Gasoline Consumption:
Hawaii’s statewide consumption for gasoline, as measured by the gasoline tax base, decreased 1.0% in December 2012 from the same month a year ago. A total of 37.7 million gallons of gasoline was consumed in December 2012. Gasoline in December 2012 was mainly consumed in Honolulu (64.0%), followed by Hawaii County (16.6%), Maui County (13.5%), and Kauai County (5.9%).
Highway Diesel Fuel Consumption:
Hawaii’s December 2012 consumption for highway use diesel was about 3.6 million gallons, increased 9.7% from the same month last year. Highway use diesel in December 2012 was mainly consumed in Honolulu (57.7%), followed by Hawaii County (23.5%), Maui County (13.2%), and Kauai County (5.9%).
· Aviation Fuel Consumption:
In December 2012, data from the Department of Taxation showed aviation fuel consumption statewide increased about 1.132 million barrels or 5.6% from the same month a year ago. The 21.4 million gallons of aviation fuel distributed in December 2012 were shipped to the various counties as follows: City and County of Honolulu, 55.3%; Maui County, 25.0%; Hawaii County, 11.1%; and Kauai County, 8.7%.
· Number of Vehicles:
As of February 2013, there were 1,045,085 registered taxable gasoline passenger vehicles in the state, 7.2% increase from the same period last year and an increase of 9,257 or 0.9% from January 2013.
There were 14,246 registered passenger hybrid vehicles, accounting for 1.3% of the total 1,070,036 registered passenger vehicles in February 2013, and representing an increase of 360 vehicles or 2.6% from January 2013. There were 22,787 registered taxable diesel freight vehicles, 4.4% increase from the same period last year.
In February 2013, the number of hybrid freight vehicles totaled 74 and the number of registered taxable electric passenger vehicles totaled 1,257. The number of registered taxable electric passenger vehicles increased 553 vehicles or 78.6% from the same month last year and increased 62 vehicles or 5.2% from January 2013.
Submitted by DBEDT