Prepare for an Expensive Winter

I think the Natural Gas costs for heat is a bit underestimated at 23% more. Maybe double that. This problem will persist into next winter as well, in my opinion.
 
There are crude oil futures bids being placed in the $150+/barrel range. Between this Ukraine mess, and the reductions in fossil fuels production, and not enough solar, etc., to compensate, energy costs are going to rise substantially....for everyone.
 

Another factor in our planning where to retire was weather. Cold North East or Sunny Southwest. It's going to be cold tomorrow in the mid 50's with a strong 11 mph. wind so we'll have to dress warm to do our morning walk. It can get colder like 32 degrees F. overnight for maybe 30 days from mid January to mid February but warms during the day.

Of course 27 years ago we never expected the cost to be what people are facing now, we just knew that what we planned for is working now better than ever for us financially.
 
There are crude oil futures bids being placed in the $150+/barrel range. Between this Ukraine mess, and the reductions in fossil fuels production, and not enough solar, etc., to compensate, energy costs are going to rise substantially....for everyone.
I haven't seen any bids in that range and would be a bit hesitant in believing some oil trader's wishful thinking. There is actually a glut in crude currently... the problem is refining cannot process enough to meet consumer demand.
crude inventory.jpg
If imports and exports matched, the crude inventory would be substantially above current.
gasoline inventory.jpg
Gasoline is lagging, due to refining capacity, but also due to exporting far more than is being imported. The red line at top is what the inventory would be if balanced trade of gasoline.

What is really troubling, is the gasoline inventory keeps falling, yet U.S. consumption is falling...4 week gasoline consumption average.jpg
I'm done.
 

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