U.S. heating demand ticks up in December

U.S. heating demand in December 2025 rose slightly compared to the prior year, according to the latest national weather data. 

What’s happening: Nationwide Heating Degree Days (HDDs), the primary measure of heating demand, rose seven percent year-over-year during the month. (HDDs measure heating demand by subtracting a day’s average temperature from 65°F.)

The big picture: The increase was driven by a cooler month in the eastern half of the country, compared to December 2024. 

Zoom in: The East North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin) saw the biggest demand jump, with HDDs rising 15.2 percent year-over-year, while every other eastern and central region also saw increases. 

• Meanwhile, warmer weather in both the Mountain and Pacific regions drove declines of nearly ten percent.