The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-12-05
BY-
 PRODUCTS MUCH
 IN DEMAND NOW

In spite of the steel and coal strikes with their paralyzing effect on indus
 try, there continued throughout the
 month of November very active de
 mand for petroleum products. In
 fact the demand for certain classes of oils was so persistent as to force prices up at the rate of several cents l per gallon within a short time. Nat uraIly here and there a few weak spots developed on account of striks conditions but these were of local and temporary character.
 At one time the export situation , seemed to assume serious aspects be- i cause of the prolonged strike of the l New York and New Orleans long | shoremen. Great quantities of oil in | barrels and cases accumulated l Though the strike has been settled,
 shipping conditions in New York are 1 much upset and will perhaps continue
 until congestion has been overcome. 1 Nevertheless, the demand from 1 broad is steady and most exporters l are unable to take care of the export i business
 Pennsylvania Again Advances.
 The advance in Pennsylvania crude
 oil on November ' to $4.50 a barrel was anticipated. So far, it has not | resulted in a more ample supply of l crude at the refineries. Most pro- | ducers are accumulating crude oil in 1 the expectation of higher prices. It
 is predicted that we will soon have
 S5 crude and it is reported that pro | ducers in the Pennsylvania fields are 1 holding for that price.
 Other crude oils throughout the l east have advanced in sympathy with 1 Pennsylvania crude at 10 to 15 cents l per barrel. It would hardly seem that l Continent, Texas and Gulf oils
 are ready for an advance at this time, l although there have been rumors to 1 this effect. In certain sections of these l fields is rather an oversupply of crude l than not enough.
 1 The prices now paid for eastern l crude oils are unquestionably too high ! compared with the present value of
 refined products. Of which con
 siderable portion is selling at less
 than the price paid for crude oil. | Gasoline Prices Ease of Slightly. | In view of the advanced season | there has naturally been a slackening | in demand but. so far, prices have | been holding rssher firm, only yield | ing here and there a fraction of a l cent per gallon. -
 The increased rate of export ship
 ments has tended to offset to some | extent the decrease in home con- | sumption.
 The longshoremen's strike did not | interfere much with the loading and | dispatch of tank steamers; gasoline | shipments for export were moved | freely throughout the month. Prices for bulk delivery by tank wagon have
 remained practically unchanged at
 the various distributing points. . Kerosene Market Strong
 Although during the last month re-
 ports were to the effect that prices
 were weakening in some sections ii
 seems to be a fact that the country
 as whole is free from any heavy ac- cumulation of kerosene supplies Most refiners are moving all of
 their output promptly. The demand
 for export is at the same steady rate,
 1rage quantities going to the far east,
 to South America and to Europe, in- i cluding the central empires.
 It may be expected that we will have highar nricas for keroaana dur