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Report: State’s gas consumption declined in 2012’s first quarter
SACRAMENTO – A new report from the California State Board of Equalization shows that California’s gas consumption showed a continued decline over the first three months of 2012, while diesel consumption showed a slight increase over the same period in 2011.
In the year’s first quarter, gasoline consumption in California fell for the fifth consecutive quarter, declining 0.4 percent, while at the same time gasoline prices went up 10.9 percent.
“Higher gasoline prices, changing driving habits with fewer trips and better mileage with fuel efficient cars – all appear to be influencing declining consumption in California,” said California State Board of Equalization First District Board Member Betty T. Yee, whose district encompasses Lake County.
First quarter average gasoline prices were up 40 cents to $4.06 – a 10.9 percent increase – while the average price in March was up 41 cents to $4.41, the report showed.
Total gasoline consumption for the first quarter declined 15.7 million gallons compared to the first quarter last year, for a total of 3.6 billion gallons used.
Diesel fuel consumption increased 1.7 percent compared to a year ago, as California consumed an additional 10.1 million gallons, for a total of 597 million gallons in the first quarter.
In California, diesel averaged $4.28 a gallon, up 43 cents – an 11.2 percent increase – from last year's first quarter.
Both gasoline and diesel fuel prices in California continued to be higher than the national average price, according to the Board of Equalization’s findings.
Nationally, regular gasoline averaged $3.66 a gallon, up 32 cents from last year's first quarter according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The EIA diesel retail prices reported the national average price of diesel was up 34 cents to $3.97 – an increase of 9.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier.
In March, a survey and resulting graphic from AAA identified how drivers are changing their behavior to help offset higher prices at the pump.
AAA concluded: “As a result of current gas price increases, 84 percent of (AAA) respondents have already changed their driving habits or lifestyle in some way. Combining trips and errands was the most commonly reported cost-cutting measure with 60 percent of respondents reporting having already made this adjustment.”
The Board of Equalization monitors gasoline consumption using tax receipts paid by fuel distributors in California. BOE updates the fuel reports at the end of each month. The last reports posted are for March.