Fascinating data released today indicate an encouraging trend in which it’s hard to see a downside – unless you’re in the energy or auto industries. The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute said average fuel consumption for U.S. drivers dropped in 2013 to the lowest level since UMTRI began measuring in 1984. Any way you care to slice it – by vehicle, driver, person or household – fuel consumption is lower now than a generation ago and is some 14 to 19 percent less than peak levels in 2003-2004, said UMTRI researcher Michael Sivak. Sivak’s numbers indicate that in 2013 the amount of fuel consumed per person in the U.S. was about 392 gallons, while households consumed an average of 1,011 gallons – respective declines of 17 percent and 19 percent from 2004′s peaks. Fuel consumption per vehicle dropped to 524 gallons in 2013 (down 14 percent from the […]