highlights july was a hot month not only for the us but across globe data collected by national oceanic and atmospheric administration reveals that hottest on record around world 1 in temperatures averaged 6 3 percent warmer than normal 9 8 this time last year 2 weren t factor increasing demand refined petroleum products s retail sales increased over as consumer spending major driving force economy strongest durable goods total 1998 4 measured supplied reached second highest level ever averaging 18 7 million barrels per day table & figure h1 less 0 below include finished motor gasoline production set ajulyrecordhigh at an average of all high 5 stocks ended higher
