Texas Petro Index from Texas Alliance of Energy Producers increased for second straight month and third time in five months this year. The index, based on a comprehensive set of economic indicators in the industry, was 143.1 in May – up from 139.7 in April and 138.3 in March. The index prepared by economist Karr Ingham started with base 100.0 in January 1995 and peaked at 314.0 in November 2014. Ingham said since May 2020 the prices of oil and natural gas are up along with rig count, drilling permits, oil production volume and value, and gas production volume and value. Despite recent gains, the index shows that industry employment is down in the past year, however.