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Ethanol and Unleaded Gasoline
Average Rack Prices

As of August 2016, the rack price of ethanol was $1.43 versus $1.73 for unleaded 87–octane gasoline—a difference of 30 cents per gallon. The average ethanol rack price dropped 21 cents from last month's price and was 19 cents lower than a year ago. Unleaded 87–octane gasoline's average rack price rose 13 cents higher from last month's price but was 46 cents lower than a year ago. Unleaded 84–octane gasoline's average rack price rose 12 cents higher compared to last month's price but was 22 cents lower than a year ago. In the tables below, ethanol and unleaded gasoline rack prices per gallon, F.O.B. Omaha, are given for each month with an annual average for each year from 1982 to the present.

A third table has been added to this report, which provides the monthly average price of unleaded 84–octane gasoline at the Omaha rack.

An analysis archive is available.

This symbol indicates a rule of thumb follows. A general rule of thumb: An increase or decrease in the gasoline rack price is a clear indication of the direction of the gasoline price at the pump.

chart showing Ethanol and Unleaded Gasoline Rack Prices F.O.B. for Omaha, Nebraska from 1982 through 2015.

Fuel Ethanol Average Rack Prices
F.O.B. Omaha, Nebraska, 1982 – 2016
Table 1 of 3

(Price per Gallon)

Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
Fuel Ethanol
Fuel Ethanol
Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
2016 $1.43 $1.46 $1.42 $1.54 $1.60 $1.69 $1.64 $1.43 NA NA NA NA NA
2015 $1.60 $1.50 $1.53 $1.66 $1.71 $1.62 $1.67 $1.62 $1.61 $1.65 $1.57 $1.52 $1.61
2014 $2.10 $2.02 $2.70 $3.15 $2.44 $2.33 $2.26 $2.24 $2.19 $1.92 $2.38 $2.40 $2.34
2013 $2.32 $2.45 $2.54 $2.55 $2.65 $2.67 $2.58 $2.45 $2.58 $2.16 $2.19 $2.44 $2.47
2012 $2.21 $2.20 $2.29 $2.27 $2.22 $2.13 $2.55 $2.72 $2.52 $2.48 $2.43 $2.40 $2.37
2011 $2.39 $2.44 $2.58 $2.72 $2.72 $2.76 $2.90 $2.94 $2.88 $2.72 $2.88 $2.49 $2.70
2010 $1.95 $1.83 $1.70 $1.60 $1.68 $1.64 $1.62 $1.86 $2.18 $2.33 $2.47 $2.27 $1.93
2009 $1.67 $1.67 $1.62 $1.62 $1.70 $1.81 $1.72 $1.72 $1.69 $1.94 $2.14 $2.15 $1.79
2008 $2.29 $2.31 $2.46 $2.59 $2.73 $2.72 $2.90 $2.75 $2.68 $2.51 $2.10 $1.61 $2.47
2007 $2.26 $2.12 $2.31 $2.37 $2.46 $2.43 $2.51 $2.43 $1.93 $1.79 $2.08 $2.24 $2.24
2006 $2.13 $2.52 $2.42 $2.45 $3.04 $3.58 $3.14 $2.72 $2.33 $1.89 $2.25 $2.43 $2.58
2005 $1.72 $1.56 $1.31 $1.20 $1.20 $1.42 $1.78 $2.07 $2.74 $2.47 $2.09 $1.99 $1.80
2004 $1.40 $1.37 $1.69 $1.80 $1.73 $1.86 $1.68 $1.58 $1.56 $1.87 $1.97 $1.80 $1.69
2003 $1.15 $1.30 $1.44 $1.25 $1.12 $1.27 $1.28 $1.27 $1.38 $1.38 $1.65 $1.72 $1.35
2002 $0.94 $0.94 $1.12 $1.05 $0.95 $1.03 $1.16 $1.35 $1.28 $1.20 $1.25 $1.21 $1.12
2001 $1.77 $1.70 $1.51 $1.46 $1.76 $1.63 $1.41 $1.49 $1.53 $1.36 $1.14 $0.97 $1.48
2000 $1.10 $1.14 $1.14 $1.19 $1.25 $1.35 $1.33 $1.33 $1.48 $1.49 $1.66 $1.72 $1.35
1999 $0.94 $0.95 $1.01 $0.96 $0.95 $0.90 $0.95 $0.95 $0.96 $0.98 $1.09 $1.13 $0.98
1998 $1.16 $1.14 $1.04 $0.96 $0.95 $1.01 $1.06 $1.10 $1.12 $1.10 $1.06 $0.94 $1.05
1997 $1.13 $1.13 $1.13 $1.14 $1.16 $1.08 $1.09 $1.15 $1.19 $1.19 $1.19 $1.18 $1.15
1996 $1.22 $1.23 $1.23 $1.30 $1.37 $1.38 $1.40 $1.54 $1.56 $1.51 $1.30 $1.16 $1.35
1995 $1.25 $1.27 $1.19 $1.16 $1.12 $1.08 $1.08 $1.10 $1.11 $1.11 $1.12 $1.16 $1.15
1994 $1.13 $1.16 $1.13 $1.12 $1.12 $1.19 $1.25 $1.32 $1.26 $1.21 $1.22 $1.18 $1.19
1993 $1.14 $1.23 $1.20 $1.21 $1.19 $1.14 $1.09 $1.12 $1.12 $1.16 $1.11 $1.16 $1.16
1992 $1.22 $1.24 $1.29 $1.32 $1.37 $1.41 $1.35 $1.36 $1.41 $1.38 $1.33 $1.26 $1.33
1991 $1.30 $1.23 $1.25 $1.28 $1.33 $1.27 $1.24 $1.28 $1.21 $1.24 $1.33 $1.28 $1.27
1990 $1.26 $1.23 $1.21 $1.26 $1.29 $1.29 $1.26 $1.52 $1.56 $1.55 $1.50 $1.30 $1.35
1989 $1.15 $1.13 $1.23 $1.40 $1.38 $1.36 $1.31 $1.17 $1.25 $1.24 $1.09 $1.05 $1.23
1988 $1.05 $1.08 $1.09 $1.14 $1.14 $1.14 $1.23 $1.17 $1.13 $1.16 $1.15 $1.13 $1.13
1987 $0.89 $1.01 $1.13 $1.17 $1.36 $1.40 $1.43 $1.43 $1.28 $1.20 $1.12 $1.04 $1.21
1986 $1.52 $1.35 $1.27 $1.22 $1.14 $1.04 $0.95 $1.05 $0.96 $0.84 $0.77 $0.75 $1.07
1985 $1.57 $1.58 $1.57 $1.68 $1.62 $1.62 $1.61 $1.58 $1.59 $1.60 $1.60 $1.55 $1.60
1984 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.54 $1.58 $1.58 $1.56 $1.57 $1.55
1983 $1.69 $1.68 $1.64 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.73 $1.80 $1.65 $1.65 $1.54 $1.68
1982 $1.75 $1.70 $1.66 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.70 $1.69 $1.72 $1.75 $1.71

Unleaded Gasoline (87 Octane) Average Rack Prices
F.O.B. Omaha, Nebraska, 1982 – 2016
Table 2 of 3

(Price per Gallon)

Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
Unleaded Gasoline (87 Octane)
Unleaded Gasoline (87 Octane)
Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
2016 $1.15 $1.02 $1.46 $1.57 $1.74 $1.82 $1.60 $1.73 NA NA NA NA NA
2015 $1.43 $1.76 $1.93 $1.89 $2.08 $2.28 $2.28 $2.19 $1.86 $1.91 $1.52 $1.38 $1.88
2014 $2.74 $2.82 $2.95 $2.94 $2.88 $2.97 $2.79 $2.75 $2.68 $2.46 $2.22 $1.73 $2.66
2013 $2.65 $3.14 $3.05 $2.89 $3.23 $2.90 $2.99 $3.02 $2.92 $2.79 $2.61 $2.59 $2.90
2012 $2.69 $2.98 $3.27 $3.16 $2.95 $2.84 $2.87 $3.11 $3.31 $2.93 $2.69 $2.59 $2.95
2011 $2.56 $2.66 $2.99 $3.27 $3.27 $2.97 $3.09 $2.97 $2.90 $2.83 $2.69 $2.60 $2.90
2010 $2.11 $2.03 $2.24 $2.31 $2.15 $2.11 $2.12 $2.09 $2.11 $2.19 $2.21 $2.41 $2.17
2009 $1.26 $1.28 $1.40 $1.43 $1.76 $2.03 $1.99 $2.00 $1.85 $1.99 $2.06 $2.01 $1.76
2008 $2.43 $2.53 $2.67 $2.89 $3.22 $3.37 $3.30 $3.10 $2.94 $2.02 $1.33 $1.07 $2.57
2007 $1.49 $1.74 $2.02 $2.25 $2.66 $2.41 $2.49 $2.33 $2.30 $2.24 $2.52 $2.35 $2.23
2006 $1.75 $1.67 $1.92 $2.22 $2.18 $2.22 $2.39 $2.31 $1.70 $1.62 $1.65 $1.69 $1.94
2005 $1.31 $1.37 $1.60 $1.64 $1.51 $1.60 $1.66 $2.00 $2.20 $1.82 $1.55 $1.63 $1.66
2004 $1.04 $1.10 $1.17 $1.23 $1.45 $1.27 $1.32 $1.27 $1.30 $1.42 $1.32 $1.17 $1.25
2003 $0.92 $1.11 $1.07 $0.95 $0.96 $0.94 $0.98 $1.10 $0.96 $0.98 $0.89 $0.91 $0.98
2002 $0.59 $0.61 $0.81 $0.86 $0.83 $0.82 $0.88 $0.85 $0.88 $0.96 $0.80 $0.85 $0.81
2001 $0.93 $0.91 $0.86 $1.08 $1.24 $0.85 $0.78 $1.01 $1.01 $0.70 $0.60 $0.56 $0.88
2000 $0.81 $0.86 $0.91 $0.98 $0.99 $1.09 $0.87 $0.91 $1.02 $0.98 $0.94 $0.80 $0.93
1999 $0.37 $0.36 $0.57 $0.57 $0.52 $0.55 $0.64 $0.63 $0.71 $0.66 $0.75 $0.74 $0.59
1998 $0.54 $0.47 $0.40 $0.47 $0.47 $0.43 $0.41 $0.38 $0.39 $0.43 $0.37 $0.41 $0.43
1997 $0.63 $0.59 $0.59 $0.56 $0.54 $0.52 $0.54 $0.52 $0.53 $0.52 $0.54 $0.54 $0.55
1996 $0.66 $0.67 $0.74 $0.82 $0.78 $0.71 $0.69 $0.69 $0.60 $0.64 $0.67 $0.65 $0.69
1995 $0.53 $0.56 $0.57 $0.63 $0.67 $0.61 $0.56 $0.57 $0.58 $0.58 $0.61 $0.63 $0.59
1994 $0.46 $0.51 $0.52 $0.55 $0.56 $0.59 $0.63 $0.68 $0.59 $0.52 $0.56 $0.50 $0.56
1993 $0.58 $0.59 $0.66 $0.65 $0.66 $0.62 $0.57 $0.58 $0.58 $0.61 $0.56 $0.46 $0.59
1992 $0.54 $0.57 $0.61 $0.64 $0.69 $0.70 $0.66 $0.65 $0.68 $0.67 $0.62 $0.59 $0.64
1991 $0.77 $0.67 $0.67 $0.73 $0.74 $0.68 $0.68 $0.73 $0.64 $0.64 $0.70 $0.59 $0.69
1990 $0.65 $0.63 $0.62 $0.67 $0.69 $0.67 $0.62 $0.85 $0.94 $0.95 $0.91 $0.76 $0.75
1989 $0.54 $0.52 $0.56 $0.63 $0.64 $0.71 $0.71 $0.56 $0.66 $0.63 $0.58 $0.55 $0.61
1988 $0.48 $0.50 $0.50 $0.57 $0.57 $0.55 $0.60 $0.59 $0.54 $0.51 $0.54 $0.53 $0.54
1987 $0.54 $0.52 $0.54 $0.56 $0.59 $0.61 $0.64 $0.63 $0.57 $0.58 $0.58 $0.49 $0.57
1986 $0.74 $0.60 $0.46 $0.50 $0.58 $0.54 $0.42 $0.47 $0.48 $0.45 $0.47 $0.46 $0.51
1985 $0.74 $0.73 $0.80 $0.88 $0.92 $0.93 $0.93 $0.91 $0.82 $0.82 $0.86 $0.82 $0.85
1984 $0.84 $0.86 $0.87 $0.88 $0.88 $0.87 $0.84 $0.84 $0.84 $0.85 $0.84 $0.74 $0.85
1983 $0.92 $0.88 $0.86 $0.90 $0.94 $0.95 $0.95 $0.95 $0.93 $0.91 $0.89 $0.87 $0.91
1982 $1.04 $1.01 $0.95 $0.90 $0.94 $1.05 $1.06 $1.05 $1.03 $1.02 $0.99 $0.96 $1.00

Unleaded Gasoline (84 Octane) Average Rack Prices
F.O.B. Omaha, Nebraska, 2015 – 2016
Table 3 of 3

(Price per Gallon)

Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
Unleaded Gasoline (84 Octane)
Unleaded Gasoline (84 Octane)
Fuel/Type
Year		 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Average
2016 $1.05 $0.95 $1.33 $1.38 $1.54 $1.57 $1.43 $1.55 NA NA NA NA NA
2015 $1.32 $1.69 $1.82 $1.78 $1.97 $2.03 $1.97 $1.77 $1.57 $1.63 $1.38 $1.25 $1.68

Previous Years

The first half of 2015 had low gasoline prices due to low crude oil prices. As the year progressed, gasoline prices sunk even lower as the prices followed the crude oil prices.

In 2014, corn prices averaged $3.30 per bushel.

In September of 2013, suppliers replaced 87 octane regular unleaded gasoline with 84 octane regular unleaded gasoline. Regular unleaded gasoline was blended with premium gasoline or ethanol to increase the octane from 84 to 87.

In 2012, farmers endured a drought which pushed up corn prices to near or above $8 per bushel (record high). Ethanol prices were lower due to high ethanol inventories, and by the end of 2012, ethanol demand was very strong. Gasoline demand dropped 6 percent in 2012 as more drivers filled up with ethanol–blended fuels.

In the spring of 2010, Nebraska was experiencing high corn prices and low petroleum costs.

The year 2009 brought a record harvest corn crop, the news of which pushed corn prices down. Since corn is the top raw material cost for distillers, lower corn prices increased ethanol margins. While the ethanol industry saw shutdowns, bankruptcy filings and curtailments since late 2008, larger ethanol margins were welcome. U.S. ethanol production for 2009 was also expected to be higher than 2008 due to biofuel blending mandates calling for annual increases in corn ethanol. The ethanol average was $1.79 in 2009 compared to $2.47 in 2008 (a 28–percent decrease), and the unleaded gasoline average was $1.76 compared to $2.57 (a 32–percent decrease). Unleaded gasoline's average broke an upwards trend that started in 2002. Ethanol's average was at a level not seen since 2005.

The year 2008 brought crude oil prices to a peak soaring above $140 in July. Likewise, unleaded gasoline prices were volatile, reaching over $3, and then falling close to a dollar. The ethanol average was $2.47 in 2008 compared to $2.24 (a ten–percent increase) in 2007, and the unleaded gasoline average was $2.57 compared to $2.23 (a 15–percent increase). Unleaded gasoline's average fell in line with a trend that started in 2002. Ethanol's average was higher than 2007's average but still short of 2006's average.

The year 2007 brought additional operating capacity for ethanol and, with the additional supply, brought lower prices. Higher crude oil prices pushed unleaded gasoline prices higher. The average ethanol price for 2007 was lower than 2006, but the 2007 average unleaded gasoline price was higher than 2006. The ethanol average was $2.24 compared to $2.58 (a 13–percent decrease), and the unleaded gasoline average was $2.23 compared to $1.94 (a 15–percent increase).

The year 2006 brought the MTBE phaseout and the switch to ethanol as an additive. The average prices for 2006 for both ethanol and unleaded gasoline were higher than the average prices for 2005. The ethanol average was $2.58 compared to $1.80 (a 43–percent increase), and the unleaded gasoline average was $1.94 compared to $1.66 (a 17–percent increase).

Sources: Nebraska Ethanol Board, Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Energy Office, Lincoln, NE.

Notes: The price excludes discounts and Superfund. The numbers in red indicate revised numbers. NA indicates data is not available.

The tables were updated on September 9, 2016.
Typically, there is one month between updates.

The graph was updated on January 7, 2016.
Typically, there is one year between updates.