US New-Car Fuel Economy Average Climbs To 25.5 MPG In May 2015
Things are looking up for U.S. new-car fuel economy, as the average climbed 0.3 mpg in May to 25.5 mpg.
The new average is also 5.4 mpg better than the 20.1 mpg first averaged in October 2007 when the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute began measuring U.S. new-car fuel economy, Edmunds reports.
Factors for the increase include rising fuel prices and increased sales of more fuel-efficient models like the Chrysler 200 and Honda HR-V. The average price for a gallon of regular per AAA stands at $2.75, though the average is lower than the $3.66 paid at the pump at this time last year. However, the group says the cost of fuel may have peaked by now, and is expected to fall through the rest of the summer thanks to stabilized oil prices and refineries finishing their seasonal maintenance routines.
Meanwhile, sales of trucks and SUVs are still going strong thanks to lower prices at the pump, and will likely continue as those prices fall back down from their current peak. Said sales have knocked down the U.S. new-car average by as much as 0.8 mpg since August 2014, when the average hit an all-time high of 25.8 mpg.
[Image credit: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute]
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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What measurement did they use? EPA? CAFE? Something entirely different?
Please see my comments on last month's identical story regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of data.
Well, at least people will have to shut up about America's truck/suv buying binge for a month.....right? I know chicken-little gets the clickbait traffic, but most of these buyers are swapping their old vehicles for new vehicles with equal or superior mpg. Midsize sedans of 5-6 years ago get the same mpg as a modern CUV. A guy who replaces his old truck with a new truck is getting better mileage as well.