Marcus is excited to share some insights into today’s gas prices and their impact on our future from our colleagues at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. You can also read their original article on the impact of geopolitical uncertainties on gas prices and the global economy.
$4? $4.50? $5? It may seem like the prices you’re seeing at the gas pump are going up and down daily, leaving you to wonder how much you’ll pay next time you fill up. But one thing seems certain – that tankful will cost more than it used to.
Our colleagues in Goldman Sachs Asset Management who study these things think high gas prices aren’t just today’s problem; they could affect our economic and environmental future for years or even decades to come.
But before we talk about effects, let’s dive into causes. What made gas prices go so high? It’s not a simple story.
Like so many stories these days, this one begins with Covid.
In early 2020, as the pandemic spread, Americans (and the rest of the world) went into hibernation mode, sticking close to home and dramatically reducing our travel. As a result, gasoline demand plummeted to its lowest level in more than 25 years.
To keep prices from tumbling with demand, OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) tried reducing their production of crude oil – the raw material of gasoline. But a few holdout countries continued to produce oil and flooded the world markets. With too much supply and too little demand, prices tanked.
So, imagine being an oil producer facing the shocking possibility of having to pay people to take your product off your hands. That nightmare came true in April 2020, less than two months into the pandemic. The spot price (the current marketplace price at which a commodity can be sold for immediate delivery) of West Texas Intermediate crude oil – the US benchmark for oil prices – briefly dropped to minus $40 a barrel.
Startled industry leaders reacted dramatically. They cancelled investments in new oil supply and even cut off some existing wells, thinking demand would never recover. (Which, given the global shift in focus to green energy, is what they’d been expecting for some time.)
But demand did recover — very quickly. In April, global oil consumption dropped to 70% of pre-pandemic levels. But by summer, it was back to 90% of normal. First, we ordered more essentials online and drove the demand for gas to power delivery trucks up. Then, we started travelling again, fueling up cars and airplanes.
But cautious producers kept the taps tightened, and supply shortages pushed crude oil prices to a seven-year high by Halloween 2021.
Fast forward to spring 2022. Green energy hasn’t reached the point where it can supply all our needs. And oil producers are just starting to spend money on production again after seven long years of underinvestment. But they can’t increase supply overnight. Meanwhile:
Limited supply, high demand and plenty of uncertainty. It’s no wonder it’s hard to know what will happen to prices at the pump from here.
You can see that the high price of gas is part of a bigger picture. So, let’s look at our colleagues’ take on how high gas prices and their contributing factors could impact us in the future.
The economy:
The energy transition:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional advice. Individuals should consult their own tax advisor for matters specific to their own taxes and nothing communicated to you herein should be considered tax advice. This article was prepared by and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs, but does not reflect the institutional opinions of Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or division. Goldman Sachs Bank USA does not provide any financial, economic, legal, accounting, tax or other recommendation in this article. Information and opinions expressed in this article are as of the date of this material only and subject to change without notice. Information contained in this article does not constitute the provision of investment advice by Goldman Sachs Bank USA or any its affiliates. Neither Goldman Sachs Bank USA nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in this document and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
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