Current Ethanol Vs. Gas Prices (May 25, 2012)

Tracking gasoline prices versus ethanol prices. The pink line is the commodity price of ethanol (which has less efficiency than gas, E-0). The green line line adjusts for this lower efficiency, allowing an "Apples to Apples" comparison with the commodity RBOB price of gas (the blue line). The red line is the average retail price of gasoline in U.S.

As of May 25, 2012 -- ethanol (adjusted for efficiency) is 8¢ per gallon higher than gasoline on a wholesale price comparison. However, since most gasoline contains only 10% or less ethanol (E-10), this price differential at the pump is currently eight tenths of a penny (.8¢).

Current Retail Gasoline Prices by Region Data Sources:
Per numerous Sources (DOE, EPA), E-10 (10% ethanol) has ~3% less efficiency than E-0 (zero ethanol). Ethanol on a "net basis" has less BTU content, but higher octane.

-- Wholesale Ethanol prices (pink line) are from the Chicago Board of Exchange.
-- Wholesale Gasoline prices (blue line) are from the Chicgo Board of Exchange.
-- Retail Gasoline prices (red line) are from Bloomberg's survey of national gas prices.

-- Real Time Daily Trading Data on energy products.