U.S. refinery utilization rates fell sharply in the latest reporting week, with the indicator dropping by 2.4% week-over-week, according to data updated on 15 April 2026. This marks a significant acceleration from the previous week’s marginal 0.1% decline.
The data, drawn from the EIA’s weekly report, show that the week-on-week deterioration in refinery activity has moved from essentially flat to notably negative. The “actual” figure reflects the change in utilization for the current week versus the prior week, while the “previous” figure (-0.1%) captures the change recorded in the prior week relative to the week before that.
The sharper pullback in utilization may signal a shift in operational patterns at U.S. refineries compared with earlier weeks, with potential implications for near-term fuel supply dynamics and market pricing closely watched by traders and analysts.
