Families Spend $3K Per Year on Gas

Gas prices have steadily dropped for nearly a month in Los Angeles County, but a new government energy report shows that families are spending more to fuel up now than in previous years.

The average household spent almost $3,000 — or just under 4 percent of income before taxes — on buying gasoline in 2012, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration report released last month.

With the exception of similar dramatic increases in gasoline expenditures in 2008, last year saw families spending more money on the fuel than in the previous 30 years, according to EIA estimates.

Americans travel more, but because of the increased efficiency that newer vehicles enjoy, less gas is consumed per mile. Gasoline consumption in the country fell to 134.2 billion gallons in 2011, when the average price of a gallon climbed to $3.70. The price of gas rose faster than did the average household income, according to the report.

A gallon of gas in Los Angeles County cost an average of $4.094, on Friday dropping three-tenths of a cent. The average price is 4.7 cents less than one week ago, 22.9 cents lower than one month ago and 26.4 cents below what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The best price for gas in South Gate and Lynwood is $4.16, according to Map Quest.

Have you spotted a local gas station that sells cheaper gas?
How much of your budget goes toward buying gas?
Do you have any gas-saving tips?

Tell us in the comments section below.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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