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This is your Daily Crude Oil Price Tracker with Vanessa Clark podcast.

Hello and welcome to Daily Crude Oil Price Tracker. I’m Vanessa Clark, and today is Wednesday, October twenty-second, twenty twenty-five. Whether you watch oil prices as a trader, a commuter, or a business owner, this daily podcast will keep you updated with the freshest news, price movements, and the key forces shaping the world’s most important commodity—crude oil.

Let’s dive in with today’s headline numbers. Crude oil prices have rebounded a bit, with the current price sitting at fifty-nine dollars and forty cents per barrel. That’s up about three point seven percent from yesterday, offering a little relief after a month-long downtrend. Over the past month, oil prices have actually dropped by six point three percent, and compared to a year ago, they’re down sixteen percent. So if you’ve been watching for a turnaround, today’s rally is notable—but the broader trend remains soft.

What’s fueling this latest upswing? International headlines are playing a big role. The United States and India may soon strike a trade deal that could see India slowly reduce its imports of Russian crude. If that happens, demand for oil from other sources could increase and support higher prices. The European Union is also moving ahead with its nineteenth round of sanctions on Russia, which could further tighten supplies from that region.

Here in the US, the Energy Department announced plans to add one million barrels to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That’s the first such buyback in quite a while and means near-term supply could be a bit tighter. In addition, the latest EIA data shows US crude inventories fell by nearly one million barrels last week. Fuel stockpiles, including gasoline, were also lower than expected—suggesting solid consumer demand.

But looking at the bigger picture, the oil market faces headwinds. Experts at the International Energy Agency recently projected a global oil surplus of over two million barrels per day next year, which is about four percent of total demand worldwide. This is mainly due to record-high output from OPEC plus members, the United States, and other producers. US oil production is especially resilient—currently at around thirteen point two million barrels per day and expected to push even higher next year. Despite fewer rigs operating, technological efficiency in the US shale sector has kept output strong.

Industry analysts note that the uncertainty around OPEC’s future production—there’s a wide range in what different agencies expect—adds an extra layer of volatility. Kuwait’s oil ministry even said OPEC will hire outside consultants to reassess member states’ production capacity in the coming months. That lack of clarity means market forecasts could change quickly if OPEC members adjust their output plans.

Stockpiles are extensive as well. Across OECD countries and China, inventories have swelled to a four-year high, up two hundred twenty-five million barrels since January. China has played a big part by aggressively stockpiling crude for strategic purposes, which is distorting normal supply-demand patterns.

So, what does all of this mean for you? If you’re watching gasoline prices, expect some lag before today’s higher crude prices trickle down to the pump. Longer-term, unless OPEC changes course or demand strengthens unexpectedly, we may see crude oil settling around the high fifties to low sixties per barrel. Analysts are estimating crude oil could average just under sixty dollars by the end of this quarter, with a potential climb closer to sixty-four dollars in the next twelve months if market conditions improve.

For businesses, this is a time to be nimble. Companies relying on petroleum products should...