California gasoline consumption continues to drop
By Nancy Rivera Brooks, Los Angeles Times
California drivers are keeping their feet on the brakes, with gasoline demand falling for eight months in a row.
Gasoline consumption in California totaled 1.23 billion gallons in October, down 1.8 percent from the 1.26 gallons used the previous October, according to a report released Tuesday by California State Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome E. Horton. The last time gas use increased was in January 2011, when consumption rose 2.7 percent. Consumption was flat in February.
“High gas prices appear to be directly affecting fuel consumption in California,” Horton said. “We are seeing a trend of Californians consuming less gasoline in the last eight months of 2011.
“We’ll see what coming months show as California begins to turn the corner and shows signs of economic growth.”