EIA forecasts world oil consumption growth to slow amid less economic activity
We forecast consumption growth of crude oil and other liquid fuels will slow over the next two years, driven by a slowdown in economic growth, particularly in Asia, in our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).
After more than a decade of little change, U.S. electricity consumption is rising again
In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. annual electricity consumption will increase in 2025 and 2026, surpassing the all-time high reached in 2024. This growth contrasts with the trend of relatively flat electricity demand between the mid-2000s and early 2020s. Much of the recent and forecasted growth in electricity consumption is coming from the commercial sector, which includes data centers, and the industrial sector, which includes manufacturing establishments.
U.S. energy flow and energy consumption by source and sector charts for 2024
(Wed, 30 Apr 2025) Five energy flow diagrams with data for 2024 show U.S. production and consumption of total energy, petroleum, natural gas, coal, and electricity. Five charts with U.S. energy consumption by source and sector show the distribution, by both energy source and sector, of total energy, petroleum products, fossil fuels, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions in 2024.
U.S. energy consumption growth decreases in the near term in the latest AEO
U.S. energy consumption decreases in the next several years before increasing again in the early 2040s through 2050, according to our recently published Annual Energy Outlook 2025 (AEO2025). U.S. energy consumption in 2050 is lower than in 2024 in most of the scenarios we explore in AEO2025, but the range of outcomes varies significantly based on the underlying assumptions.
U.S. propane consumption reached an 18-year record in January amid cold snap
U.S. propane consumption reached 1.48 million barrels per day (b/d) in January 2025, the most January consumption on record since January 2005 and the most for any month since February 2007, as severe cold drove up heating demand across much of the country.
U.S. natural gas consumption set new winter and summer monthly records in 2024
In 2024, U.S. natural gas consumption averaged a record 90.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and set new winter and summer monthly records in January and July, according to data in our Natural Gas Monthly. Overall, U.S. consumption last year increased 1% (0.9 Bcf/d) from 2023. In January, natural gas consumption was up 12% (12.5 Bcf/d) compared with January 2023 consumption, and in July, consumption increased by 3% (2.5 Bcf/d) compared with July 2023.
U.S. manufacturing energy consumption has continued to increase since 2010 low
U.S. manufacturing energy consumption has continued to increase, according to our recently released survey results for 2022. We conduct the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Surveys (MECS) every four years, and the latest iteration shows the third consecutive increase in energy consumed in the manufacturing sector since a low point in 2010. Natural gas consumption in the manufacturing sector increased by more than all other energy sources combined, as compared with the previous MECS results from 2018.
Preliminary results for the 2022 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
(Thu, 20 Mar 2025) We released our preliminary results from the 2022 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) on March 20, 2025.The initial data table provides information on total U.S. manufacturing energy consumption for all purposes (fuel and nonfuel). The new data show total energy consumption increased for the third continuous four-year period, largely due to increased natural gas consumption; solar-, wind-, hydro-, and geothermal-powered onsite electricity generation; and wider use of other renewable energy sources such as agricultural waste.
U.S. ethane production, consumption, and exports set new records in 2024
U.S. ethane production, consumption, and exports reached record highs in 2024, according to recent data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. Increasing ethane recovery associated with natural gas production and continued growth in the domestic and global petrochemical sectors drove these increases.
Refinery closures and rising consumption will reduce U.S. petroleum inventories in 2026
In 2026, we forecast that inventories of the three largest transportation fuels in the United States—motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel—will fall to their lowest levels since 2000 in our February Short-Term Energy Outlook.