“How much of Houston’s economy is tied to energy?”
“Is Houston less dependent on energy than it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago?”
Energy Defined
Before answering either question, one must first define the industry. Oil and gas has three sectors: upstream, mid-stream, and downstream. Upstream includes exploration, production, and oilfield services. Midstream focuses on the processing, transportation, and storage of crude and natural gas. Downstream involves the refining and processing of oil and natural gas into fuels, chemicals, and plastics. All three sectors are well-represented in Houston.
Energy's Contribution to Houston's GDP
Every December, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes its estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for all 384 U.S. metro areas. BEA estimates that oil and gas extraction accounted for $20.5 billion (4.3 percent) of Houston’s GDP in ’18. That’s down from $33.1 billion or 7.7 percent in ’14.
Metro Houston Employment
Metro Houston added 55,000 jobs in June. That’s on top of the 78,200 jobs added in May. Despite the surge, local employment remains 217,700 jobs below its February pre-COVID level. The largest job gains occurred in restaurants and bars, retail and arts, entertainment and recreation. Government, manufacturing and transportation, ware-housing and utilities and energy continued to lose jobs. Of the major sectors, only finance and insurance has returned to its pre-COVID employment level.
SNAPSHOT – KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS
Crude Oil
The closing spot price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the U.S. benchmark for light, sweet crude, averaged $40.69 per barrel during the last week of July ’20, down 28.0 percent from $56.05 for the same period in ’19. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reduce global economic activity. However, oil prices rose in July as OPEC and partner countries maintained production cuts and the United States continued to reduce drilling activity.
Home Sales
The Houston area housing market has fully regained its spring losses and returned to pre-COVID sales volumes though the recovery may be short-lived as listings dry up. Houston-area realtors sold 10,975 single-family homes in July ’20, up 23.0 percent from the same month last year and the most ever for a single month in Houston. Year-to-date sales totaled 51,388 single-family homes, up 2.7 percent from the first seven months of ’19.
Natural Gas
The cost of consumer goods and services as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 1.0 percent nationwide from July ’19 to July ’20, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Core inflation (all items less the volatile food and energy categories) increased 1.6 percent since July ’19.
Rig Count
Baker Hughes reports 244 drilling rigs were working in the U.S. during the second week of August ’20. That’s down 691 rigs, or 73.9 percent, from the same week in August last year.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 06 January 2023
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jan 12, 2023
During December, payrolls rose by 223K while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% and average hourly earnings eased 0.3%. Job openings (JOLTS) edged down to 10.46 million in November.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 10 April 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Apr 11, 2020
The Federal Reserve greatly expanded the collateral that it is willing to buy, further easing pressures in financial markets.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 24 April 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Apr 27, 2020
Oil prices went negative for the first time in history on Monday as the evaporation of demand collided with a supply glut. In the past five weeks, 26.5 million people have filed for unemployment insurance, or more than one out of every seven workers.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 02 July 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jul 04, 2020
It was a mildly busy week for foreign economic data and events, while global COVID-19 cases continued to rise.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 03 April 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Apr 04, 2020
Efforts to contain the virus are leading to millions of job losses and it’s likely only a matter of time before a majority of economic data reveal unprecedented declines.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 23 September 2022
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Sep 27, 2022
The FOMC raised the target range for the fed funds rate by 75 bps for the third consecutive time. The housing market continues to buckle under the pressure of higher mortgage rates.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 27 August 2021
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Aug 30, 2021
In other economic news, output continues to ramp up across the U.S., even as the resurgence in COVID cases is leading to some pullback in consumer engagement.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 14 October 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Oct 14, 2020
The global mobility playing field is equalizing. Major European countries such as Germany and France have seen a slowdown in recent weeks, leaving them right in line with the United States relative to the January baseline.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 25 November 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Nov 28, 2020
It may be a holiday-shortened week, but there have been as many developments and economic indicators packed into three days as we can recall seeing in any other week this year.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 19August 2022
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Aug 23, 2022
July data indicates that we celebrated a decline in gas prices by going shopping, boosting retail sales figures. I’m not sure I get the connection...
