Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers left their benchmark interest rate unchanged and near the highest level of this century – where it has held since mid-2023 – amid lingering inflation worries. However, Fed officials on Wednesday hinted that costs are nearing a healthy level. That could open the door for rate reductions and lower borrowing costs…

Weak weather-driven demand and robust production intersected this winter to depress natural gas prices, deflating market bulls. But lower heating costs contributed to falling inflation levels, saving consumers money and supporting expectations for continued economic growth in 2024. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a rate of…

Aside from a brief Arctic chill that temporarily sent heating demand soaring in mid-January, weather this winter has largely disappointed natural gas price bulls. Near-record production that kept supply well above average levels compounded matters. The March natural gas futures contract on Tuesday settled at $2.009/MMBtu, down 7.3 cents on the day. The prompt month…

For all the talk about weak weather-driven demand in 2023, a buoyant U.S. economy may complement mounting global energy needs and provide a key pillar of strength for natural gas markets in the form of steady industrial demand in the new year. Over much of 2023, elevated inflation and the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) aggressive interest…

Natural gas and oil industry executives across Texas, northern Louisiana, and southern New Mexico expect a Henry Hub natural gas price of $7.55/MMBtu and a West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price of $108/bbl by the end of this year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The Dallas Fed, as it is known, obtained…

Energy activity was flat in the first quarter across much of the Rockies and the northern half of New Mexico, as the region’s exploration and production (E&P) companies said natural gas prices needed to average $3.02/MMBtu for drilling to be profitable, according to the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) of Kansas City.

Oil and gas operators in Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Louisiana continued to “git ‘er done” during the first three months of this year, with energy activity stronger for the second consecutive quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said Wednesday.