EPA: No Change in U.S. Fuel Economy in 2004

May 5, 2004

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 28th that the average gas mileage of new cars, pickups, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) sold in the United States is 20.8 miles per gallon (MPG) for 2004, essentially equal to last year's value of 20.7 MPG. According to EPA's annual fuel economy trends report, U.S. fuel economy has held roughly steady since 1997, varying only between 20.6 and 20.9 MPG. U.S. fuel economy peaked at 22.1 MPG in the late 1980s, but since then the fuel efficiency of cars, pickups, and SUVs has remain unchanged, while sales of the less-fuel-efficient pickups and SUVs have increased. In 2004, the EPA estimates that 48 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold in the United States will be either pickups or SUVs. See the EPA press release and the full report on the EPA Web site.