by Calculated Risk on 6/20/2011 11:30:00 AM
Monday, June 20, 2011
DOT: Vehicle Miles Driven decreased -2.4% in April compared to April 2010
This data is for April and gasoline prices were at the highest level of the year at end of April and in early May - so the YoY decline might be less in June.
Note: WTI future oil prices are down to $92.53 per barrel (down from $113.39 on April 29th), and Brent Crude is at $112.04 per barrel (down from $126.64). Gasoline prices are off over 30 cents per gallon from the recent peak.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that vehicle miles driven in April were down 2.4% compared to April 2010:
Travel on all roads and streets changed by -2.4% (-6.1 billion vehicle miles) for April 2011 as compared with April 2010. Travel for the month is estimated to be 250.5 billion vehicle miles.
Cumulative Travel for 2011 changed by -0.8% (-7.1 billion vehicle miles). The Cumulative estimate for the year is 939.2 billion vehicle miles of travel.
![Vehicle Miles](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4Dsp_KZweNz_rGZ-pGsAkykkbhyphenhyphenzFmVxb1UrHH6D6u1hWggfLc4k63zIk7h_R-mhqVDABJ7gphNbQ5cXgy6xLE6u3p3qma5pQVEXT6FIIrlhCwWpb-XQL7kzDRnmDO2wpRv4Gg/s320/VehicleMilesRolling12April2011.jpg)
This graph shows the rolling 12 month total vehicle miles driven.
Note: in the early '80s, miles driven (rolling 12 months) stayed below the previous peak for 39 months. Currently miles driven has been below the previous peak for 41 months - so this is a new record for longest period below the previous peak - and still counting!
![Vehicle Miles Driven YoY](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZwJTJmW60WiNdX5FyLH-_RsclJT5mY7URYWyaW5SQgIf-Ipf0dr5EsR88t1x8NyVg842FEd7eSwLuv56qb_PBDI4TwP01WrXNPE2IflGBMDikhwLeMS1AAVg4ByXVjWox8PAOw/s320/VehicleMilesYoYApril2011.jpg)
With the decline in oil and gasoline prices, the YoY decline in miles driven will probably not be as large in June.