Natural Gas Prices Surge, Heating Costs Rise 9.2% for American Households
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CVX?
Source: Benzinga
- Heating Cost Increase: The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects a 9.2% rise in home heating costs for American households, more than three times the inflation rate, severely impacting low-income families and pushing many into utility debt.
- Extreme Weather Demand Impact: An exceptional cold wave across 40 states is driving natural gas demand sharply higher, with Henry Hub futures surging past $5 per MMBtu, highlighting the market's heavy reliance on energy during severe weather conditions.
- Infrastructure Bottlenecks Amplify Price Spikes: Pipeline constraints in the Northeast limit gas delivery to densely populated areas, resulting in disproportionately higher energy costs in these regions, especially as cold weather increases the risk of equipment failures.
- Global Market Influence on Local Prices: U.S. LNG exports are closely tied to global demand, with Europe accounting for 53% of U.S. LNG exports in 2024, which further tightens local supply and raises domestic natural gas prices, impacting heating costs for consumers.
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Analyst Views on CVX
Wall Street analysts forecast CVX stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 183.870
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
Current: 183.870
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
About CVX
Chevron Corporation is an integrated energy company. The Company produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance its business and industry. The Company’s segments include Upstream and Downstream. Upstream operations consist primarily of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation and regasification associated with LNG; transporting crude oil by major international oil export pipelines; processing, transporting, storage and marketing of natural gas; carbon capture and storage; and a gas-to-liquids plant. Downstream operations consist primarily of the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants; manufacturing and marketing of renewable fuels, and transporting of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Joint Venture Structure: In this exploration, Chevron holds a 70% operating interest while Helliniq Energy holds 30%, a partnership that will help mitigate risks and enhance resource development capabilities.
- Exploration Phase Plans: Under the agreement, the consortium will conduct 2D and 3D seismic surveys during the first exploration phase to evaluate hydrocarbon potential, laying the groundwork for future development.
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- Oil Price Reaction: Oil prices surged in response to President Trump's statement about deciding on military action against Iran within the next 10 days, with WTI crude rising by $1.24, or 1.9%, to close at $66.43 per barrel, reflecting market concerns over potential conflict.
- Japan Inflation Data: Japan's headline inflation for January dipped below the Bank of Japan's 2% target for the first time in 45 months, indicating signs of economic slowdown that could influence future monetary policy decisions.
- China Central Bank Decision: The People's Bank of China is set to announce its loan prime rate (LPR) decision today, with the current one-year and five-year LPRs at 3% and 3.5% respectively, and the market will closely watch this decision's potential impact on the economy.
See More
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See More
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