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News Release Information

18-1927-CHI
Friday, December 21, 2018

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

Average Energy Prices, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn — November 2018

Gasoline prices averaged $2.661 per gallon in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area in November 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Charlene Peiffer noted that area gasoline prices were down 6.8 cents compared to last November when they averaged $2.729 per gallon. Detroit area households paid an average of 15.0 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in November 2018, less than the 15.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in November 2017. In November, the average cost of utility (piped) gas was 86.8 cents per therm, higher than its average price of 77.0 cents per therm a year earlier. (Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)

At $2.661 per gallon in November 2018, costs for gasoline in the Detroit area were 7.2 cents lower than the national average of $2.733 per gallon. In November 2016, Detroit area gasoline prices were 4.6 cents lower than the national average. Detroit area gasoline prices in November 2014, November 2015, and November 2017 were higher than the national average, ranging from 3.9 cents to 12.1 cents more. (See chart 1.)

The 15.0 cents per kWh that Detroit households paid for electricity in November 2018 was 11.9 percent higher than the nationwide average cost of 13.4 cents per kWh. In the previous four years (2014-2017) in November, Detroit area electricity costs exceeded the national average, ranging from 11.2 percent to 26.7 percent more. (See chart 2.)

Prices paid by Detroit area consumers for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were 86.8 cents per therm in November 2018, 14.9 percent below the national average of $1.020 per therm. In the previous four years (2014-2017) in November, Detroit area utility (piped) gas costs were lower than the national average, ranging from 11.1 percent to 25.1 percent less. (See chart 3.)

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich., core based statistical area covered in this release is comprised of Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

Historical average energy prices for the U.S. and select metropolitan areas are available at www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/averageenergyprices_selectedareas_table.htm.

The Consumer Price Index for December 2018 is scheduled to be released, Friday, January 11, 2019.


Technical Note

Average prices are estimated from Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for selected commodity series to support the research and analytic needs of CPI data users. Average prices for electricity, utility (piped) gas, and gasoline are published monthly for the U.S. city average, the 4 regions, 9 divisions, 2 population size classes, 8 region/size-class cross-classifications, and the 23 largest local index areas. For electricity, average prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) are published. For utility (piped) gas, average prices per therm are published. For gasoline, the average price per gallon is published. Average prices for commonly available grades of gasoline are published as well as the average price across all grades.

All eligible prices are converted to a price per normalized quantity. These prices are then used to estimate a price for a defined fixed quantity.  The average price per kilowatt-hour represents the total bill divided by the kilowatt-hour usage. The total bill is the sum of all items applicable to all consumers appearing on an electricity bill including, but not limited to, variable rates per kWh, fixed costs, taxes, surcharges, and credits. This calculation also applies to the average price per therm for utility (piped) gas.

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 800-877-8339.

Table 1. Average prices for gasoline, electricity, and utility (piped) gas, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, and the United States, November 2017 – November 2018, not seasonally adjusted
Year and monthGasoline per gallonElectricity per kWhUtility (piped) gas per therm
Detroit areaUnited StatesDetroit areaUnited StatesDetroit areaUnited States

2017

November

$2.729$2.608$0.156$0.136$0.770$1.028

December

2.5332.5210.1560.1360.7721.042

2018

January

2.6632.5960.1640.1350.7741.048

February

2.5492.6320.1640.1350.7571.077

March

2.5732.6310.1640.1350.7571.054

April

2.7182.7950.1650.1340.7331.044

May

2.9722.9630.1540.1360.8621.050

June

3.0142.9700.1610.1390.8701.042

July

2.9682.9300.1610.1390.8461.038

August

2.9532.9190.1560.1390.8411.055

September

2.9232.9300.1560.1380.8521.030

October

2.8912.9450.1570.1360.8581.023

November

2.6612.7330.1500.1340.8681.020

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, December 21, 2018