GasBuddy predicting most expensive July 4 since '08

North American oil prices have advanced by just a few pennies since Iraqi violence put a question mark around the future stability of supply, but U.S. consumers will still see the most expensive July 4 gasoline prices in six years, according to GasBuddy. <br /> <br /> "Fear about what could happen if Iraqi exports fall prey to violence has altered the calculus for summer oil prices," observes GasBuddy chief oil analyst Tom Kloza. U.S. oil production is as high as it has been since October 1986 and gasoline should be well supplied in all states during the holidays, "but big sellers will probably stay on the sidelines until it's clear that Middle East exports aren't threatened," Kloza adds. <br /> <br /> The U.S. is nowhere near as dependent on Middle Eastern oil as it was as recently as three years ago, but the global market could be nervous about Iraq from now through the peak weeks of the Atlantic Hurricane season, GasBuddy analysts suggest. The potential loss of all or a part of the 2.6-million barrels per day of Iraqi oil that moves to consuming countries may keep prices higher than they might be under more peaceful circumstances. <br /> <br /> "Hot spots" with expensive gasoline show up most frequently in California and Washington, but also in Michigan, Ohio, and especially Kentucky. In all cases, the higher numbers are not attributable to Iraq, but instead are tied to regional refinery issues. Southern California, the Puget Sound, and portions of Ohio and Kentucky have all seen unanticipated refinery downtime in recent weeks. Kentucky finds average gas prices more than 30cts/gal above last year.<br />

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