BOE: Statewide gas consumption rises for first time in eight years | The Sacramento Bee

California’s gasoline consumption, which has been trending slowly downward, increased nearly 1 percent in fiscal 2013-14, according to the state Board of Equalization.

It was the first increase in eight years.

Diesel fuel consumption, typically an indicator of in-state trucking commerce, rose 3.7 percent in the most recent fiscal year, up sharply from a 0.3 percent year-over-year gain in fiscal 2012-13.

BOE characterized both gains as byproducts of an improving economy.

BOE’s report said that Californians consumed more than 14.57 billion gallons of gasoline in fiscal 2013-14, compared with about 14.44 billion gallons the prior year. During that time, California’s average price of gasoline was $3.92 per gallon in fiscal 2013-14, which is a decline of 2.5 percent from an average price of $4.02 the previous year.

For perspective, statewide consumption was nearly 16 billion gallons in 2006; declining consumption has been partly due to a proliferation of hybrids and more fuel-efficient vehicles, plus generally higher gas prices.

In-state diesel use in 2013-14 totaled about 2.75 billion gallons, compared with 2.65 billion gallons in 2012-13.