Oct 26, 2011
U.S. road travel falls to lowest levels since 2003
CAPTION
By Carolyn Kaster, AP
The Department of Transportation reports that travel on U.S. roadways through the first eight months of this year is down 1.3% from a year ago -- or 26 billion vehicle miles -- and has reached the lowest level since 2003.
Travel in August, the latest month available, continued the downward trend, falling 4.6 billion vehicle miles, or 1.7%, to the lowest level since recession-wracked August 2009.
The Northeast saw the biggest drop in August, falling 2.2% compared with a year ago; the West, in comparison, fell just 1.2%, the DOT reports. Among types of vehicle travel, urban interstate travel fell just 0.5%, while rural interstate travel fell 2.7%.
Higher gas prices likely played a part in the decline. On Aug. 1, a gallon of regular ran $3.68 nationally, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. That's up $1 from early August 2010.
Economic malaise may have also resulted in fewer summer road trips. August's consumer confidence index plummeted below levels seen all year — and it hasn't improved since then.
-- Kelsey Mays/Cars.com's Kicking Tires
