US New-Car Average Fuel Economy Down To 25.2 MPG In April

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the monthly average U.S. new-car fuel economy fell 0.2 mpg to 25.2 mpg in April.

The drop in fuel economy was likely aided by the ongoing demand for SUVs and trucks fueled by lower prices at the pump, Edmunds reports. The current average was last seen February for much the same reason, and though still below the August 2014 peak of 25.8 mpg, the average is still 5.1 mpg higher than when UMTRI first began tracking new-car fuel economy in October 2007.

Meanwhile, the average price at the pump nationwide is $2.62/gallon, per AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The current average is $1 less than it was a year ago, but around 30 cents higher than last month. The slight jump is due to increasing demand, seasonal maintenance, and production of summer-blend gasoline. The travel group adds that prices will remain below $3/gallon for the remainder of 2015, “barring any major supply disruptions.”

[Image credit: UMTRI]

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on May 05, 2015

    Here's what happens when we shrink engines to save fuel, but at the same time put everyone in a new rounded-block shaped CUV.

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    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on May 05, 2015

      @NoGoYo That's called the SUS! I have seen between one and three in my whole life. Everyone bought the wagons here instead.

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on May 05, 2015

    This proves that fuel pricing is an effective instrument in modifying vehicle purchasing behavior. Maybe the US should remove CAFE, allow the manufacturers to create vehicles that they want and use fuel pricing via taxation to influence the market.

  • ClutchCarGo ClutchCarGo on May 05, 2015

    After Jack's positive Prius review I may have to get serious about replacing my '02 Sable wagon with a Prius V. If everyone else is jumping into the biggest beast they can find, the Toyota dealer must be getting worried about his bottom line.

  • Theonewhogotaway Theonewhogotaway on May 05, 2015

    Donuts to Dollars, I bet that the "drop" is statistically insignificant and well within the standard deviation based on sample size. No.News.Here.

    • See 1 previous
    • Turf3 Turf3 on May 06, 2015

      I have just about given up on hoping that anyone in the press has any understanding of statistics or how to create or interpret graphs. The is the same thing as the attempts by financial pundits to interpret daily fluctuations of 1/2% in the Dow Jones when its control limits are +/- 3%.

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