ENERGY: January gasoline consumption in California lowest since 2000


Californians burned 1.17 billion gallons of gas in January, the fewest gallons for any January since 2000 , the California Board of Equalization said Monday.

The board, which tallies gasoline usage by tracking incoming taxes, said high prices pushed down consumption. The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline at the time was $3.75, up 10.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the board.

"Rising gas prices are bad news for California drivers," said Michelle Steel, a member of the board.

The population of California is 37 million, 10.9 percent higher than it was in 2000.


