Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of May 9, 2003

Refineries in the nation are operating at 96.3% capacity.

Gasoline:   Midwest production is 2,163 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 9.2% over last week.

Diesel:   Midwest production is 742 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 2.9% from last week.

Propane:   Midwest production is 222 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 4.3% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of May 9, 2003

Gasoline:   Midwest inventory is 48.4 million barrels--0.2% percent (or 100,000 barrels) higher than last week's inventory but 1.2% lower than last month's level.  It is psychologically important to keep national stocks at 200 million barrels.  As of May 9, the national stock level is 208.6 million barrels.

Diesel:  Midwest inventory is 21.3 million barrels--4.4 percent higher than last week's inventory and 9.2% higher than last month's level.

Propane:  Midwest inventory is 8.2 million barrels--10.8% higher than last week although inventory levels remain below the normal range.  As of May 9, the national inventory level is 26.8 million barrels.  Industry observers believe a 60-million-barrel level for national inventory is adequate prior to the start of the heating season.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Natural Gas:   The East Region's inventory, of which Nebraska is a part, is 438 billion cubic feet--13.8% more than last week but 298 billion cubic feet or 41% below the normal range.  As of May 9, the national inventory level is 900 billion cubic feet.  Close to 3 trillion cubic feet is generally considered to be adequate for winter demand.  This would require an injection of approximately 2.1 trillion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)