The return of the gas guzzler? Average fuel economy drops in June.
Back in March, the average fuel economy of sold in America hit -- the first time that figure had ever crossed the 24 mpg mark.
Since reaching that point, however, fuel economy has been steadily drifting downward. According to , it did so again last month, when the average fuel economy of sold clocked in at 23.6 mpg.
But efficiency fans shouldn't fret too much: 23.6 mpg is still 3.5 mpg above the average fuel efficiency of sold in October 2007, when聽the聽University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute first began tracking stats.
Why the slide?
It doesn't take a brain surgeon or an analyst to figure out why fuel economy is on the decline: lower gas prices.
Today, the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.36 -- a full 20 cents lower than it was just one month ago, and 60 cents below this year's high of about $3.90, reached in early April.聽
How much further gas prices will continue to erode, . True, oil is cheap, but one good hurricane could send prices back toward $4 per gallon.
What we do know is that fuel economy remains the .聽Of course, the top-selling vehicles in the country remain 聽--聽but then, for the thousands of workers in construction and聽similar聽industries, the Toyota Prius really isn't an option.
Are you in the market for a new car? What sort of fuel economy are you hoping for in your next ride?
