Propane sales volumes during the six months ended January 31, 2024 decreased 3.1%, or 13.6 million gallons, compared to the prior year period. Average temperatures (measured by heating degree days) were 6% warmer than normal (based on NOAA’s ten-year average) and 1% warmer than the prior year during the six months ended January 31, 2024.
Our wholesale sales price per gallon partially correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas during the six months ended January 31, 2024 averaged 21.3% less than the prior year period, while at the Conway, Kansas major supply point prices averaged 24.4% less than the prior year period. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.70 and $0.89 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.68 and $0.90 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This decrease in the wholesale cost of propane contributed to our decrease in sales price per gallon.
Revenues
Retail sales decreased $98.7 million, or 13%, compared to the prior year period. Gallons sold decreased 14.6 million gallons, or 4%, compared to the prior year period. The decline corresponded with the decreases in the wholesale sales price per gallon noted above as well as customer attrition related to the impact of continued inflationary conditions across the nation.
Wholesale sales decreased $16.3 million, or 6%, compared to the prior year period corresponding to the decrease in sales price per gallons noted above. Wholesale gallons sold increased 0.9 million gallons, or 1%, compared to the prior year period.
Other gas sales increased $0.4 million, or 5%, compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in sales volume.
Other revenues decreased $1.8 million, or 3%, compared to the prior year period.
Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
Gross margin decreased $4.0 million primarily due to a $114.6 million decrease in revenue, which was partially offset by a $110.6 million decrease in cost of sales as a result of decreases in price per gallon, as discussed above. These decreases impacted both the revenue and cost of product changes for the period. As expected, propane market cost reduction and stabilization impacted our current period gross profit. Margin per gallon for the period increased by $0.03, or 3%, compared to the prior year period.
Gross margin - other
Gross margin decreased $0.9 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year period.
Operating income
Operating income decreased $16.4 million, or 12%, primarily due to a $9.3 million increase in “Operating, general and administrative expense,” a $3.1 million increase in “Depreciation and amortization expense” and the $4.9 million decrease in gross margin noted above.
The $9.3 million increase in “Operating, general and administrative expense” was comprised of a $17.2 million increase in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” partially offset by a $7.9 million decrease in “General and administrative expense.” The $17.2 million increase in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” was primarily due to increases of $8.0 million in personnel costs, $5.7 million in vehicle costs, and $4.6 million in selling and other costs. These increases were partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in plant and office costs.
The $8.0 million increase for personnel costs was primarily driven by increases of $5.0 million in payroll expenses related to growth projects (including increased acquisitions and the expansion by Blue Rhino into both self-service vending) and new customer growth, in addition to $3.3 million related to the timing of benefit payments.
Vehicle costs increased $5.7 million primarily due to increases of $4.8 million increase for vehicle repairs and maintenance and $1.6 million for other costs as trucks were refurbished to support new customer growth in Blue Rhino, partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million in fuel costs.