WTI Research: How to Read Spot Prices and U.S. Oil Inventories
The Cushing WTI spot price and weekly oil inventories are different series. Research must identify each series’ location, units, observation period, and release time.
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Direct answer
The Cushing WTI spot price and weekly oil inventories are different series. Research must identify each series’ location, units, observation period, and release time.
Research problem and method
Identify the price series precisely
The EIA provides a WTI spot price series for Cushing, Oklahoma, in U.S. dollars per barrel. Record the series name and frequency. A daily observation and a weekly observation represent different measurements. Compare figures at the same frequency.
The Weekly Petroleum Status Report provides separate tables for inventories and other petroleum supply measures. Identify the inventory definition and reporting period first. Record the release time alongside it. This avoids treating later information as if it were available earlier.
A price move and an inventory change in the same period initially show only a temporal relationship. A stronger explanation needs other evidence, such as changes in production, imports, or refining. State what observation would weaken your explanation.