Of course, the demand for fuel decreases with decreased travel miles by the trucking industry and those who transport natural resources and deliver our consumer products. Lower demand that isn't matched by lower supply
should result in lower prices.
Has anyone used the word "speculators" in this thread? Petroleum, crude and refined, is sold on the futures market. Anyone with enough money can buy for some future delivery and then offer that for sale to some buyer, before delivery has to be arranged. That is where speculators play a role.
The oil industry makes up 16.5% of the Texas gross state product and 3.5% of the state’s nonfarm employment.
(link) Some sources say that it is nearly 25% of both the Texas & Wyoming economies and Alberta, North Dakota and some other places probably fit in there somewhere. We can be sure that lower price isn't likely to benefit the industry in those states & provinces.
By the way, you might ask yourself: Why doesn't 16.5% of the gross domestic product contribute to more than just 3.5% of the employment? That, I suspect, relates to who it is who makes the most money off of petroleum.