U.S. ethanol production roared back last week.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.077 million barrels a day, the highest average since late last year and up 59,000 on the week. The jump was due to plants resuming full schedules following the week of Thanksgiving, in addition to the prevention of a railroad strike that would have greatly impacted domestic movement of ethanol. That is down 13,000 on the year with some uncertainties about sustained demand.