Estimated U.S. oil well completions decreased by 69 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared to year-ago levels, according to API's 2016 Quarterly Well Completion Report, Second Quarter.

Economic activity is expected to decelerate in 2016. Higher disposable income and employment will boost private consumption, but growth will be affected by the slow start of investment projects financed by EU funds. As base effects from the oil price shock fade and domestic demand pressures build-up, inflation is expected to reach the 2-percent target in mid-2017. Over the medium-term, output growth is set to stabilize at around slightly above 2 percent in line with economy’s potential.

The World Bank is downgrading its 2016 global growth forecast to 2.4 percent from the 2.9 percent pace projected in January. The move is due to sluggish growth in advanced economies, stubbornly low commodity prices, weak global trade, and diminishing capital flows.

The current oil price environment has had a negative impact on oil investments, hurt energy efficiency and boosted the share of oil produced in the Middle East.

The worldwide rig count for June 2016 was 1,407, up 2 from the 1,405 counted in May 2016, and down 729 from the 2,136 counted in June 2015.

Oil prices have recovered more than 70 percent from the 12-year low reached earlier this year as OPEC’s strategy to pressure rivals with lower prices slowly succeeds in eliminating a surplus. Output in the U.S. has retreated to a two-year low as the boom in shale oil production faltered, while Saudi Arabia told OPEC it raised output last month close to a record.

U.S. Rig Count is up 15 rigs from last week to 462, with oil rigs up 14 to 371, gas rigs down 1 to 88, and miscellaneous rigs up 2 to 3. Canadian Rig Count is up 7 rigs from last week to 102, with oil rigs up 4 to 48, gas rigs up 3 to 53, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1.

Global consumption of petroleum and other liquid fuels is estimated to have grown by 1.4 million b/d in 2015. EIA expects global consumption of petroleum and other liquid fuels to increase by 1.4 million b/d in 2016 and by 1.5 million b/d in 2017, mostly driven by growth in countries outside of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Non-OECD consumption growth was an estimated 1.0 million b/d in 2015, and it is expected to be 1.3 million b/d in 2016 and 1.5 million b/d in 2017.

Higher and more stable crude oil prices are contributing to increased drilling in the United States, which may slow the pace of production declines. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices averaged $46.59 per barrel (b) over the last three weeks, a 40% increase over the average price in the first quarter.

The light, sweet crude oil price for August delivery fell moderately on the New York market July 11 to settle under $45/bbl. The Brent crude oil price for September delivery fell about 50¢ on the London market to settle at $46.25/bbl.

Production from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries climbed to an eight-year high last month, boosted by the re-admission of Gabon, which swelled the number of members to 14, the IEA said. The group’s crude output rose 400,000 barrels a day to 33.21 million a day as Saudi Arabia boosted production to meet peak domestic demand during the summer and as Iran continued its export recovery following the end of international sanctions in January.

U.S. oil production down 99 tbd, gas production down 417 mcfd.

Iran exports about 2 million barrels of its daily output of 3.8 million, said Mohsen Ghamsari, NIOC’s director of international affairs. The country has regained about 80 percent of the market share it held before the U.S. and European Union tightened sanctions on its oil industry in 2012, he said. Sanctions were eased in January, and Iran plans to double crude exports.

The crude oil contract for August on the New York Mercantile Exchange plunged $2.05 on July 13 to settle at $44.75/bbl. The September contract dipped $2.13 to $45.44/bbl. The natural gas contract for August was up a fraction of a cent to $2.74/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price was $2.81/MMbtu, up 6¢ on July 13.

The crude oil contract for August on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained 93¢ on July 14 to settle at $45.68/bbl. The September contract climbed 98¢ to $46.42/bbl. The natural gas contract for August was down 1¢ to a rounded $2.73/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price was $2.77/MMbtu, down 4¢ on July 14.

First-quarter 2016 financial results from U.S. onshore producers reveal an improving balance between capital expenditure and operating cash flow. Although operating cash flow was the lowest in any quarter in the past five years, larger reductions to capital expenditure brought these companies closest to self-finance (when capital investment can be paid for entirely from operating cash flow). With crude oil prices such as the global benchmark Brent price averaging over $45 per barrel in the second quarter—a 34% increase from first-quarter 2016—cash flow may improve and help offset declining revenue from lower production.

The crude oil contract for August gained 27¢ to settle at $45.95/bbl on the New York Mercantile Exchange on July 15. The September contract gained 23¢ to close at $46.65/bbl. The natural gas contract for August was up a rounded 3¢ to a rounded $2.76/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price was $2.67/MMbtu, down 10¢ on July 15.

The NYMEX crude oil contract for August fell 71¢ to settle at $45.24/bbl on July 18. The September contract also dropped 71¢ to close at $45.94/bbl. The gas futures contract for August fell a rounded 3¢ to $2.72/MMbtu. Cash gas prices went the other direction. The Henry Hub gas price was $2.81/MMbtu, up 14¢ on July 18.

The NYMEX crude oil contract for August fell 59¢ to settle at $44.65/bbl on July 19. The September contract dropped 49¢ to close at $44.45/bbl. The gas futures contract for August edged up less than a penny to remain at $2.72/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price held steady at $2.81/MMbtu on July 19, unchanged from the previous day.

The NYMEX crude oil contract for August gained 29¢ to settle at $44.94/bbl on July 20. The September contract gained 30¢ to close at $45.75/bbl. The natural gas contract for August dropped 7¢ to $2.66/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price declined 9¢ to $2.72/MMbtu on July 20