Gasoline Futures Fall to Over 4-Month Low
US gasoline futures dropped to $1.90 per gallon in April, the lowest since December, as fears of a global slowdown hit energy and equity markets. Prices fell alongside crude oil, driven by rising tensions in the US-China trade war. President Trump imposed steep tariffs on dozens of countries, including a 104% duty on many Chinese imports. In retaliation, China hiked tariffs on US goods to 84% starting April 10, and the EU approved duties on $23 billion worth of US products. At the same time, OPEC+ surprised markets by speeding up oil output increases, raising concerns about a supply glut. On the data front, the EIA reported a rise in US crude inventories, while gasoline stocks fell by 1.6 million barrels—slightly more than expected. Despite the draw in gasoline, the broader market selloff and supply concerns weighed more heavily on prices.