Wyoming sees increase in oil prices, tax collections 

CHEYENNE (WNE) —  Oil prices rose in the month of April, according to the Wyoming Insight, which serves as an energy index and business indicators report for the state. 

Oil prices rose above $100/bbl, and Opal Hub natural gas prices fell below $1.00/MMBtu for the first time since 1995.

The West Texas Intermediate monthly average price for crude oil was $100.32 per bbl. in April, 9.8% more than a month ago and 57.9% more than April 2025. Average active oil rigs were 13 in April, and the conventional gas rig count was three. In April of last year, there were 12 oil rigs and three gas rigs.

The April 2026 natural gas price at the Henry Hub averaged $2.77 per million British thermal units, $0.29 less than last month and $0.64 less than April 2025. The Opal Hub natural gas price averaged $0.93/MMBtu in April, $0.41 less than last month and $1.05 less than April 2025.

Total sales and use tax collections increase year-over-year.

Total sales and use tax collections in April also increased. They totalled $77.9 million, $2 million more (+2.6%) than April last year.

“After declining in five of the first seven months of fiscal year 2026, statewide sales and use tax collections have improved year-over-year in each of the last three months,” said Dylan Bainer, principal economist for Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division, in a news release.

Collections from the retail trade sector, which is Wyoming’s largest sector in terms of sales and use tax collections, improved the most, up $2.7 million (+9.1%). 

The mining sector experienced the largest decline in collections, down $1.1 million (-12.3%).

 The April 2026 issue of the Wyoming Insight is available at the state of Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division website, ai.wyo.gov/divisions/ economic-analysis.

This story was published on May 14, 2026.