California’s gasoline consumption declined 1.7% to 1.27 billion gallons in August 2011 compared to 1.29 billion gallons used in August 2010. In California, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in August 2011 rose 63 cents to $3.82, a 20% increase compared to August 2010 when the average price was $3.19 per gallon of gasoline. Nationally, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in August 2011 was up 92 cents to $3.70 per gallon, a 33% increase over the average price of a gallon of gasoline of $2.78 in August 2010.

California’s diesel consumption increased 11.1% for a total 228 million gallons in August 2011 compared to the total of 205 million gallons of diesel consumed in August 2010. The average price of diesel fuel in California was up 85 cents to $4.01 per gallon in August 2011, a 27% increase over the average price of a gallon of diesel of $3.16 in August 2010. Nationally, the average price of a gallon of diesel was up 90 cents to $3.86 in August 2011, a 30% increase over the average US price of a gallon of diesel of $2.96 in August 2010.

Gasoline and diesel fuel figures are net consumption that includes the California State Board of Equalization’s audit assessments, refunds, amended and late tax returns, and the California State Controller’s Office refunds. Figures for September and third quarter 2011 are scheduled to be available at the end of December 2011.