U.S. refinery yields of motor gasoline have stayed below the five-year low in every month of 2026, according to Energy Information Administration data published November 5, 2026. From January through August, the gasoline yield averaged less than 45% of each barrel of crude oil processed. The U.S. refining fleet typically yields between 45% and 50% gasoline, roughly 45 to 50 barrels for every 100 barrels of crude.

EIA attributed the shift to refinery margins for distillate fuel oil and jet fuel, which have been particularly high this year because of constrained global supplies of those fuels. Refiners have moved as much output as possible into those products. The Petroleum Supply Monthly data used in the analysis run through August 2026.

Distillate fuel oil yields, the category that includes diesel, have generally exceeded last year's levels and sat above the five-year average in every month. Crack spreads and refinery margins for distillate have been elevated for most of the year.

Jet fuel yields exceeded an average of 12% across the U.S. refining fleet for the first time in March 2026. They have remained at or above 12% through the latest data for August 2026. Jet fuel yields were already setting the five-year high for most of 2025.

Together, gasoline, distillate fuel oil and jet fuel typically account for between 85% and 90% of the petroleum products the U.S. refining fleet produces. The EIA charts show the 2026 yield for each fuel against the five-year range.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration - https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68424