U.S. MOTOR GASOLINE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

Motor Gasoline Supply (weekly data, not seasonally adjusted)

Motor Gasoline Consumption (weekly data, not seasonally adjusted)

The consumption of motor gasoline in the United States is strongly seasonal, with more consumed in the summer and less consumed in the winter. On a yearly basis, the consumption of motor gasoline in the United States has been steadily increasing as vehicle-miles increased. In the week of July 20 this year, the consumption of motor gasoline reached a record high of 9.2 million barrels per day. Thereafter, the consumption has decreased. In the most recent reporting week (5-Oct-01), the consumption was 8.5 million barrels per day, 8 percent lower than its peak in July.

Motor gasoline (more than 90 percent) is refined domestically. Anticipating the strong demand in summer, the motor gasoline supply reached its historical high in the week of June 29 this year with an average of 9.7 million barrels per day. By the beginning of October motor gasoline supply declined to 8.4 million barrels per day, 15 percent lower than two months ago.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, October 2001, Available at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/gasoline.html