Energy prices could lead to boon in tourism, problems for others
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MISSOULA – Lake County is one of 16 counties in Montana that does not produce conventional energy resources – coal, natural gas or oil — but that doesn’t mean plummeting gas prices won’t have some impact locally.
Economists and experts gathered at the University of Montana for the 40th annual Economic Outlook Seminar said the impact of the drilling slow down could likely have mixed-result, trickle-down impacts on other industries in the state, like tourism.
“It is dramatic and it is very important,” Patrick Barkley, director of Montana Bureau of Economic and Business Research, said of the sudden downturn in oil prices. “It’s like a tidal wave sweeping across all facets of economic activity in Montana statewide.”
Aside from the oil crash, the national economy has been growing, with encouraging growth in small business, Barkley said. The United States economy is strengthening as foreign countries are starting to feel an economic pinch. In Montana, wages have crept upward slowly since the recession statewide, with the exception of counties near the Bakken, where a boom in oil production has caused wages and number of workers to skyrocket.
As global prices fall, the impact nationwide and in Montana could be substantial.
“Oil field investment that are part of this new American energy revolution have quietly consumed a larger and larger share of all investment in all of the US economy,” Barkley said. “A few years ago it was 20 percent, 10 years ago it was 15 percent. Today energy investment makes up 30 percent of all investment in the United States, and when prices drop, those investments may be cut back.”
Barkley said impacts to energy investment will likely first be seen in mid-2015. Support service industries in Billings and Glendive might also be hard-hit.
“The pain is going to be felt beyond the areas where drilling takes place,” Barkley said.
The downturn led Barkley to reign in his economic outlook for 2015, and said that while statewide growth is still likely, it will be a bit slower.
Oilfield worker Darren Gunlock of Polson said he can see things in the Bakken are slowing down.
“There (are) a lot of people who have left the area,” Gunlock said. “Traffic on the road is a lot less. The lines in the grocery store are a lot less. You just don’t see the people that you saw before.”
Gunlock said the layoffs are unfortunate, but it might also be beneficial.
“It will give these oil companies time to catch their breath, get their feet back on the ground and figure out what they have got to do to make a profit and weather this storm,” Gunlock said.
Gunlock’s employer has cut back on worker’s hours, so more people can keep their jobs.
“We haven’t had many layoffs so far,” Gunlock said. “That part is good.”
Gunlock said many in the business have been going nonstop for years, and it might be nice to take a breather.
While low prices might hurt the oilfield and other industries, it could be a boon for another major industry that drives the state economy: tourism.
In 2014, when gas prices were almost double what they are today, tourism was relatively flat, although Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park had record-high numbers of visitors.
The University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research predicts the state will see a 2 percent increase in numbers of travelers throughout 2014.
“Non-resident spending will be up by about 2 to 5 percent,” said Kara Brown, director of economic analysis for the institute. “The economic impact of this spending should be more than $5 billion.”
In 2014, non-resident spending contributed more than $26 million to Lake County.
Sandy Coulter said more tourism is good for her family’s gas station which lies in the heart of Charlo.
“I think if it stays down it will really impact tourism for this year,” Coulter said. “I think we’re selling more gas than we used to for this time of year.”
The tiny station is along the route to the National Bison Range, but other than that, it sees little traffic. An uptick in travelers heading out to see the mighty bovines could be a boon for business.
“It really does help,” Coulter said.
Allard’s station manager Ty Hagan was not as sure the price decrease would have a huge impact this summer, because so many factors influence prices.
“I don’t know if it is going to stay this low,” Hagan said. “Gas is a speculation market.”
He said he has not seen much impact since the prices have dropped.
“It is weather driven,” Hagan said. “We’re in a market that is completely based on tourism. There aren’t a lot of people who are out and going to Glacier this time of year.”
In his experience, people traveling Highway 93 are going to stop for gas regardless of price.
“Being as we’re on the highway, if you need it you are going to pay,” Hagan said.
