Gasoline and diesel usage and pricing

The usage and pricing of gasoline (or petrol) results from factors such as crude oil prices, processing and distribution costs, local demand, the strength of local currencies, local taxation, and the availability of local sources of gasoline (supply). Since fuels are traded worldwide, the trade prices are similar. The price paid by consumers largely reflects national pricing policy. Some regions, such as Europe and Japan, impose high taxes on gasoline (petrol); others, such as Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, subsidize the cost. Western countries have among the highest usage rates per person. The largest consumer is the United States, which used an average of 368 million US gallons (1.46 gigalitres) each day in 2011.

US petroleum consumption reached an estimated 18.87 million barrels per day (3,000,000 m³/d) in 2011, and is expected to increase to 18.96 million barrels per day (3,014,000 m³/d) in 2012. Drivers in the United States traveled 500,000 miles (800,000 km) per day in 2011, and were expected to travel 8.158 billion miles (1.3129×10¹⁰ km) in 2012. This equates to an average of 33 miles (53 km) per vehicle per day. On average, US drivers consume 1.49 US gallons (5.6 L) of gasoline per day, or about 10.44 US gallons (39.5 L) per week. As of March 2013, the average price for 87 octane gasoline was $3.22 a US gallon (85¢/L).

In 2008 a report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates stated that 2007 had been the year of peak gasoline usage in the United States, and that record energy prices would cause an "enduring shift" in energy consumption practices. According to the report, in April fuel consumption had been lower than a year before for the sixth straight month, suggesting 2008 would be the first year US usage declined in 17 years. The total annual distance driven in the US began declining in 2006.

The average price per US gallon in 2012 (as of 31 December 2012^[update]) was $3.618 (96¢/L), the highest ever for a year. As of 31 December 2012^[update], the average price of gasoline was $3.298/gal (87¢/L), with New York at $3.70/gal (98¢/L) for the highest in the US, and Colorado at $2.987/gal (79¢/L) for the lowest.

...
Wikipedia