Decision to tap oil reserves could backfire on Obama
The decision to tap the strategic petroleum reserve looks based much more on politics than economics. Obama needs to do "something" about the economy to look like he's doing his job. Yesterday the Federal Reserve said it was halting the escalation of monetary stimulus. There is no chance of further fiscal stimulus, and Republicans in Congress are talking about cutting back. So this is Obama's largely symbolic response. Thirty million gallons, barrels, the amount of U.S. reserves to be released, is a teeny portion of the reserve. It's also less than two days' average consumption in the United States. (Heh. 30m gallons REALLy would be teeny.)
Texas crude is down about $4 this morning, perhaps responding more to the symbolism of the administration intervening in the markets than in the substance of a little bit of extra oil for sale. Oil prices were already declining. This isn't what many people believe the petroleum reserve is for. It's widely thought of as being there for true emergencies such as war and severe supply shocks. This isn't as nakedly political as if reserves had bene tapped in summer 2012. Nevertheless, the political overtones could hurt Obama.
Comments
how can you say the amount itself is meaningless AND say that the reserves really should only be used in an emergency??
Two days of oil is easily replaceable AND wouldnt help cover that much if there was such an emergency that demanded the reserves tapped!!!!!!!!
i remember people saying to bush tap the reserves when we started having gas prices rise so much - well he is doing it!!! and still we whine smh
Posted by: Aaron | June 23, 2011 12:19 PM
Of course this is a desperate political move. It wasn't well thought out and leaves even more uncertainty in the markets.
The only meddling the government should do is to stop regulating the energy markets and get out of the way of coal and oil and nuclear and biofuels and solar and wind. Stop subsidizing green energy projects, let them stand on their own.
The results will be certain, beneficial and predictable. Of course Obama and his socialist buddies will never do this, but rather continue to restrict the markets, subsidize inefficient green projects and the results will also be predictable - Continued economic malaise and inefficient use of scarce resources.
Posted by: anthrax | June 23, 2011 1:08 PM
Who edits these? It's 30 million barrels.
Posted by: Steve | June 23, 2011 1:14 PM
while there's no question a political calculation was made in the decision for the spr release (nothing happens without political calculation), the move is mainly designed to scare some of the speculative trading of oil out of the market without going the legislative/regulatory route which a) would take a long time, and b) probably wouldn't happen over the hysterics of congressional republicans, corporatist democrats, and their corporate/lobbyist puppet-masters.
i'm no fan of this president, but this is the ballsiest thing he's done to stand up for Main Street economics. If you don't believe it, just turn on CNBC and listen to the traders hyperventilate and cry like children. the gensler report a few weeks ago started this--that's when prices started to ease; and this is a full-on punch in the sack, which is absolutely beautiful to behold.
Posted by: um, no. . . . | June 23, 2011 1:23 PM
now they will have to be replaced at a much higer cost
Posted by: Anonymous | June 23, 2011 1:56 PM
30 million barrels. purchased for $50 a barrel yields a 1.5 billion dollar profit.
This is more like a short term loan than a "ballsy" move.
Posted by: Bill | June 23, 2011 2:35 PM
I don't think the writer knows what he is talking about. This is being released in conjunction with Europe releasing their own 30 million. Then it must be a political ploy in Norway, Holland, Britain and the rest!!!
If you paid attention to the various articles on this, you would learn 1) Oil prod wordwide 84.4 mil bbls/day - oil consumption 84.2 mil bbls/day. not alot of room there. 2) Lybia's entire production is stopped 1.5 mil bbls/day off market, even the terminals the rebels hold, due to ceratin sanctions and legal mumble-jumble, they cant sell it, and the conflict is at a stalemate and will be for the foreseeable future 3) OPEC just had a meeting and squabble on uping production due to Lybia, and did nothing. Granted they all cheat, but it has a play on the markets.
I am certainly no fan of this president, but there is a lot of things going on here. There is not much to gain or lose accept shut the speculators down.
Also, we can either sell the release ($91/bbl as of today) or, as we have done before "loan" it to companies where by they pay back in kind with an additional bbl premium of some type.
Posted by: Scott | June 23, 2011 4:38 PM