Oil heads for weekly decline as inflation fears remain

Oil prices were on track for weekly losses as strong US economic data heightened concerns that the Federal Reserve would further tighten monetary policy to tackle inflation, a move that could hit fuel demand even as crude stockpiles grow.

Brent crude futures dropped 64c, or 0.75%, to $84.50 per barrel by 3.34am GMT on Friday, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures shed 59c, also a 0.75% loss, to $84.50. Both benchmarks were headed for a weekly decline of more than 2%.

Data showed that the US producer price index (PPI) rose 0.7% in January, after declining 0.2% in December. Meanwhile, jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 194,000, compared to the 200,000 forecast, according to a Reuters poll.

“Strong US data bolstered concerns over rate hikes and prompted a rise in US Treasury yields, which weighed on oil and other commodity prices,” said Kazuhiko Saito, chief analyst at Fujitomi Securities.

Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets, said US crude stockpiles rising to a 17-month high suggested that demand was weakening, resulting in lower prices.

“Crude oil prices were also lower due to risk-off trades following the sell-off on Wall Street following the PPI data and a strong U.S. dollar,” Teng said.

Oil prices have seesawed over the past weeks between fears of a recession hitting the US amid inflation-fighting rate hikes and hopes for a pickup in demand in China, the world’s top oil importer.

The International Energy Agency said this week that China would make up nearly half of this year’s oil demand growth after it relaxed its Covid-19 curbs, but restrained production by Opec+ countries could mean a supply deficit in the second half.

Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the Opec+ deal to cut oil production targets by 2-million barrels per day would be locked in until the end of the year, adding he remained cautious on Chinese demand.

Reuters