The near-month futures price for Central Appalachian coal, which is the main source of bituminous coal in the eastern U.S., is down sharply so far in 2012 as coal demand by utilities declines due to a warm winter and low natural gas prices.
Cumulative population-weighted heating degree days (HDDs from November 2011 through January 2012) are down 12% nationally from the long-term average for those months.
