Refineries run by Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Citgo Petroleum Corp near St. Louis shut some units unexpectedly this week, and a tainted batch of motor fuel in Milwaukee forced several filling stations to close.
Gasoline is our focus until supplies rise.
The contract gained 3.7 percent this week. It was the highest price in the 17 years that unleaded gasoline has been traded on the exchange. Futures represent wholesale prices. Prices were little changed this week and are up 6 percent this year. Refineries have been raising production in a race to make enough gasoline in the three weeks until the summer driving season starts with the Memorial Day weekend.