Oil Prices Rise, Then Fall Back on Fed Rate Cut Comments

On Wednesday, WTI started to rise and peaked at about $79 per barrel. This came after May’s consumer price increases were less rapid than anticipated, according to positive inflation data. This raised expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will lower interest rates in September.

Those expectations were short-lived, though, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell talked down the prospect of rate decreases, stating that inflation had to continue to rise. The market corrected, anticipating that the Fed’s estimates would only result in one rate decrease this year. Price of oil then dropped below $78 once more.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed a surprising growth in US crude oil stockpiles, which increased the downward pressure. This was in contrast to predictions of a drop.

Technically, a downward trendline was bounced off by the price, indicating a possible decline. A significant moving average offers support at $76.60, though, which might stop a sharp drop.


Due to the unanticipated increase in oil inventories and the Fed’s cautious approach to rate cuts, Wednesday’s oil price spike ultimately burned out.