New York traffic
Green light for road pricing could put brakes on US fuel demand
Washington may finally tip petrol demand into decline if it starts to back state-led policies
US road fuel consumption has been on an oscillating plateau for many years, right around 9mn bl/d of gasoline. Recessions come, recessions go, fuel taxes are increased often (at state level at least), cars become incrementally more fuel efficient and the electric vehicle rollout has begun. And yet, US gasoline consumption never enters sustainable decline, always rebounding and confounding forecasters. On a global level, it has been clear for more than a decade that, while the US is no longer a source of oil demand growth, it is not a drag on demand either. But with a new administration, the prospect that road fuel demand could finally start to decline may move from speculation to reality. E
Also in this section
28 March 2025
The massive expansion of the Northern Lights project in Norway is the clearest sign yet that the European oil and gas companies mean business when it comes to CCS
27 March 2025
Awards celebrate global innovation, leadership and achievement across the energy sector’s people, projects, technologies and companies.
20 March 2025
While advanced economies debate peak fossil fuel demand, billions of people still lack access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in the Global South
14 March 2025
Ignoring questions of sustainability will not make the problems they focus on go away
