US sees biggest jump in miles driven for a decade thanks to cheap gasoline

US drivers drove an estimated 251 billion miles in December, up 5% from last year and the most miles ever for the month, according to a report published March 12 by Reuters which analyzed recently released federal data.

That volume represents a 4.4% increase in gasoline consumption in December to 9.3 million barrels per day which is the highest volume ever since data recording started in 1945, the agency added.

The data helps explain the large 4.4 percent increase in U.S. gasoline consumption in December to 9.3 million barrels per day, the highest since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began reporting this data over half a century ago.

The increase coincides with a sharp drop in fuel prices in the second half of last year. US gasoline use accounts for nearly 10% of worldwide consumption.