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FHWA Home / Policy & Governmental Affairs / Highway Policy Information / Monthly Motor Fuel Reports / Motor Fuel Trends - March 2020 Monthly Motor Fuel Reported by States

March 2020 Monthly Motor Fuel Reported by States

Motor Fuel Trends

Created On: 8/6/2020
March 2020 Reporting Period

Gasoline Sales

Based on State-reported data (47 entries) and estimated data where States did not report, gasoline consumption for January - March 2020 changed by -3.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019. (1)

The gasoline volume shown in this report is a cumulative tabulation of gross volume reported by wholesale distributors to State motor fuel tax agencies. It includes highway use, non-highway use, and losses. There is a lag of up to six weeks between the wholesale transactions reported and retail sales to consumers. Travel trends are reported monthly in Traffic Volume Trends based on actual traffic counts at permanent traffic recorders operated by the State highway agencies and reflect highway use of fuel. The vehicle-miles reported includes all vehicles, regardless of fuel type. While data in both reports reflect changes in trends, large monthly changes can be caused by exceptional weather conditions, variations in timing of holidays, or processing delays.

Motor Fuel Taxation

All States levy volume taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel. The rates in effect for 2020 are shown in the table MF-121T. The gasoline rates vary from a low of 8.009 cents per gallon to 57.6 cents with an average of 27.7 cents.Five States provide for full or partial exemptions for gasohol, a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent fuel alcohol. Diesel rates vary from 4 cents to 74.1 cents per gallon.

Traditionally, State fuel tax rates could only be changed with legislation, but 10 States now have variable rate motor fuel taxes. These taxes are adjusted at specified intervals annually, semi-annually, or quarterly--usually on the table, MF-121T. Adjustments to variable tax rates are announced by State tax agencies shortly before the effective date of the change.


(1) This percentage change is a comparison for those States for which data are available for the report month. However, the percentage change on the national mapis a comparison of cumulative data for all States--reported and estimated--for which both 2019 and 2020 data are available.

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