Heating Oil Prices Unchanged for November 2009

Massachusetts - warm weather and a weak economy have combined to leave Massachusetts home heating oil prices relatively unchanged from the end of October 2009 to the end of November 2009.

While prices had risen approximately $0.25 per month for the two previous months, low demand and consumers taking advantage of the buyers market climate appear to be pushing down the lowest prices by ten cents and a few dealers have raised the highest prices by nearly the same amount, resulting in average consumer prices rising by $0.02.

The 2008-2009 heating season ranged from a high average of over $4.00/gallon in August then falling to roughly $2.40/gallon in December, and ending the northeast heating season at $2.18/gallon in March. Consumers who bought early, or locked in at high prices suffered as others who watched and waited bought oil at lower and lower prices throughout the winter of 2008 and spring of 2009.

Interestingly, prices are within $0.02 to $0.10 for heating oil prices during the same months a year ago, (in 2008).