The dramatic crash in crude oil prices just got even more stunning.
Oil plummeted below $30 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since December 2003. The latest wave of selling leaves crude oil down 19% this year alone. It represents an incredible 72% plunge from crude oil's June 2014 peak of almost $108.
"The fundamental situation for oil markets is much worse than previously thought," Barclays commodities analysts wrote in a client note.
Crude oil declined 3% on the day to settle at $30.44 a barrel, marking its seventh day in a row of losses.
All of this is great news for American drivers. The average price of a gallon of gasoline fell below $1.97 this week, compared with $3.68 about 18 months ago, according to AAA.
Here's why crude oil prices keep crashing lower: