In the first six months of 2022, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports were the lowest in at least 15 years, averaging 0.08 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), compared with the five-year (2017–21) average of 0.2 Bcf/d for the same period. LNG imports usually peak in the winter months (October–March), and most natural gas imported into the United States comes by pipeline from Canada.

In the first half of 2022 (January—June), U.S. exports of petroleum products averaged nearly 6 million barrels per day (b/d), the most first-half-of-year exports in Petroleum Supply Monthly data, going back to 1973. U.S. petroleum product exports increased in the first half of 2022 by 11% (596,000 b/d) compared with the first half of 2021—the fastest growth rate for that time period since 2017. Nearly all petroleum products contributed to increased exports, and the largest volumes came from distillate fuel oil and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), which include propane.

In the most recent update of our table of federal and state motor fuel taxes, state gasoline taxes ranged from as low as 8.95 cents per gallon (/gal) in Alaska to as high as 65.1 cents/gal in California on July 1, 2022. Compared with January 2022, 13 states changed some part of their gasoline taxes.

China has steadily increased its electricity generation over the past 20 years, reaching 7,600 terawatthours (TWh) in 2020 from 1,280 TWh in 2000, according to our recently updated Country Analysis Brief: China. Despite COVID-19 mitigation efforts in 2020, China still expanded its electricity generation by 5% in 2020.

An extreme heat wave affected California the week of September 4, 2022, driving record-breaking demand for electricity to meet increased air-conditioning use. On September 6, a new record was set in the California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) territory.