U.S. vehicle travel in June fell 1.7% to 282.1 billion miles, the first year-over-year monthly decline in American driving since February 2021, the U.S. Transportation Department said Wednesday.
The 4.8-billion mile decline came as average fuel prices topped $4 a gallon in June.
U.S. driving rose 11% in 2021 after falling in 2020 by 13% to the lowest yearly total miles since 2003 as COVID shutdowns drastically reduced road use.
Driving increased in April and May by less than 2%, slower than prior months, as gasoline prices spiked after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prices have been falling in recent weeks. AAA said gas prices nationally average $3.94, down from $4.53 in mid-July.
Despite the decline, the 3.27 trillion miles driven in the 12 months ending in June is still higher than in any prior 12-month period.
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