ShareThisSACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Californians used less gasoline in March, continuing a downward trend in consumption that state officials linked to high gasoline prices.Figures released this week by the state Board of Equalization said state motorists used 3.2 percent less gasoline in March than they did in the same month a year ago.The board said statewide consumption in March was 1.234 billion gallons, 43.5 million fewer gallons than for March 2007. This year's March total was 27.2 million gallons higher, or 2.1 percent more, than the consumption total reported in February.But board officials said March's numbers historically outpace February's, because March has two or three more days than February and marks the beginning of the busier spring travel period. The board monitors gasoline and diesel use through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors.The statewide average gas price at the pump rose from $3.23 per gallon in February to $3.61 in March. The Board of Equalization said that was 16 percent above the average price in March 2007.Officials estimated that nearly twice as much sales tax is being generated annually by higher gasoline prices than five years ago. The state said it took in about $3.6 billion in sales tax in 2007, when the average price of gas statewide was $3.12.In contrast, gasoline sales generated $2.1 billon in 2003, when the average pump price was $1.88.The board said diesel fuel consumption statewide in March was 234.7 million gallons, 12.4 percent below that of March 2007. That was the largest monthly decline since 2004.On a quarterly basis, the state said diesel fuel consumption on roads declined 3.7 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the first quarter of 2007. It was the second consecutive quarter that diesel fuel use declined in California.The board said that trend reflected the impact of higher diesel prices and a slowing economy. The state said less freight is moving on California roadways compared with last year.California diesel prices in the first quarter were up 27.4 percent compared with the first quarter of 2007.Statewide, the average price of diesel in California on Monday was $5.07 a gallon, up from $3.18 a year ago, according to AAA.(E-mail Mark Glover of the Sacramento Bee at mglover(at)sacbee.com.) (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Californians' used less gas in March
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