>Diesel and gas consumption, prices up in California in February

Both prices and consumption of gasoline and diesel increased in California in February compared to the previous year, according to a new report from the State Board of Equalization.

Gasoline consumption was up 0.8 percent to 1.13 billion gallons, compared to 1.12 billion gallons used in February 2009. It was the first year-over-year gain in gasoline consumption in California in four months.

The average price of gasoline during February was $2.99 per gallon, an increase of 31.7 percent from $2.27 per gallon in February 2009.

Diesel consumption rose 7.6 percent in February to 195.6 million gallons, up 13.8 million gallons from February 2009.

The diesel figure includes an audit adjustment of 11.3 million gallons related to previous time periods. Without those 11.3 million gallons, diesel consumption was still up 1.4 percent in February.

The average price for diesel in California was $2.94 per gallon in February. That represents a 30.1 percent price hike from $2.26 per gallon in February 2009.

BOE reports that diesel use has been up for two of the past three months. The report attributes the rise in consumption to improvements in the economy.