eia updated heating costs forecast home heating costs soar winter americans expect home heating prices jump much 44 winter strong economic growth high crude oil prices according eia winter especially long periods cold weather could cause even higher prices heating fuel storage levels average homes use natural gas expect see biggest jump bills prices paid residential customers expected average 8 58 per mmbtu 30 last winter average 6 61 higher prices combined increased consumption push overall costs average 780 winter 540 last year earlier eia said annual report winter fuels high prices competing petroleum based fuels help keep natural gas prices high homes heating oil pay 949 fuel winter 25 760 paid last winter prices average 1 37 per gallon 16 last year 1 18 report said 4 5 americans use propane heat homes pay 27 winter 1 045 compared 823 last year inventories propane end last month 62 million barrels 3 million last year level distillate stockpiles include heating oil diesel fuel 114 million 118 million barrels start heating season 15 18 lower last year report said government projection excludes heating oil reserve created clinton administration stores 2 million barrels distillate stocks east coast 41 million barrels close 40 less last year level new england stocks 60 1999 level eia estimated monthly price crude oil remain 28 per barrel rest year gradually decline next year average 25 per barrel rising demand asia continued growth us higher oil production opec able stem rally prices report said us crude oil inventories 287 million barrels 17 million barrels last year deficit smaller last month 26 million barrel shortfall though supplies still 8 normal expected move normal range end winter report said global oil demand year expected increase 1 1 million barrels per day last year grow additional 2 million barrels day 2001 78 million barrels day according report average retail price gasoline 1 52 per gallon last week fall 1 46 per gallon december 1 40 next march report said report says cold winter could cause northeast heating oil prices surge could spill east coast diesel markets government said chances greater year tight distillate supplies especially northeast diesel prices fall 0 09 1 55 per gallon december 1 35 next summer assuming normal conditions winter