Cloth

How Declining Gasoline Sales in Oregon Compare to the Nation as a Whole

Daily gasoline consumption in Oregon has decreased by 480,500 gallons over the past five years, Data from the Energy Information Administration watch.

Oregon residents purchased 4.0 million gallons of gasoline per day in 2021 – the latest available state-level data – totaling about 0.9 gallons per person. This represents a decline of 10.7% since 2016, compared to a decline of 5.7% nationally during the same period.

Truck Parking Club compiled information on Oregon’s gas consumption as part of a broader national analysis map states’ daily per capita gas sales. The most recent state-level data available is for 2021, meaning these statistics reflect the COVID-19 pandemic era decline.

Overall, Americans are using less gasoline. From 2017 to 2022, daily domestic gas sales fell by about 6.5 million gallons. Even more striking, Americans purchased 21.2 million fewer gallons of gasoline daily in 2021 compared to 2016, as the pandemic caused gasoline sales to decline.

At the height of the pandemic, remote work and limited in-person events meant less driving and therefore less gas mileage. Some pandemic-related changes that impact gas consumption have continued, including remote working. A little more 15% of Americans worked from home in 2022up from about 5% in 2017. This portion of remote workers came primarily from those who previously drove to work, reducing daily travel and, therefore, gasoline sales.

Other factors contributing to the decline in gasoline consumption among Americans include a gradual increase in fuel efficiency. Electric vehicles now make up a larger share of cars on American roads. Relatively high gasoline prices, coupled with other rising costs, mean many Americans are cutting back and using less fuel when possible.

However, these trends have not taken hold equally across the country.

Truck Parking Club

Americans in the Northeast and West use less gas

In general, those in the Southern states used more gas while those in the Northeast and West used less.

Montana maintained the highest gasoline sales at 1.9 gallons per person per day in 2021. It was closely followed by Wyoming (1.7 gallons), Louisiana, Kansas and Rhode Island rounding out the top five (1.5 gallons).

Montana and Wyoming, neighboring states in the mountain region of the United States, have similarities that contribute to higher gas consumption. These are two of the least densely populated states in the country, with higher-than-average car commuting rates and a lower prevalence of remote work. Electric vehicles remain unpopular and charging infrastructure is scarce. Public transportation use ranks in bottom 15 nationally, according to US News and World Report– as is the case for Louisiana and Kansas. The latter two states also have extremely low gas prices, which likely contributes to higher sales rates.

Rhode Island stands out among high-consumption states as a small, densely populated state with decent public transportation ridership. Relatively low gas prices may contribute to increased usage.

Meanwhile, several other Northeast states recorded the lowest per capita gasoline sales: Washington, D.C., New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts, states with high population density and rates high ridership on robust public transport systems. Additionally, the average income of residents in these states is higher than national averages, making it easier to purchase newer, more fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles. Additionally, with shorter travel distances and a relatively dense and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure in these metropolitan areas, the typical drawbacks of electric vehicles, such as limited range or lack of charging stations, do not are not as relevant.

Compounding factors, including density, public infrastructure, gas prices and average income, affect gas consumption in all geographies. Continued advancements in fuel-efficient transportation technologies and the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles like electric vehicles will likely continue to reduce gasoline consumption in the years to come.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series using data automation in 50 states and Washington DC.

This story was originally published on Truck Parking Club and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.