FUEL PURCHASING PATTERNS AND VEHICLE USE TRENDS FROM THE NPD RESEARCH GASOLINE DIARY DATA BASE: DATA DISPLAY

The NPD data base has been developed from the Petroleum Marketing Index (PMI) market research survey. The source for PMI is a national diary panel of approximately 4100 households balanced against the U.S. Census according to demography and geographic location. Survey participants maintain diaries in which they record purchases of gasoline and motor oil for each household vehicle. The PMI survey was augmented to include EPA fuel economy numbers for post 1975 model year vehicles. The steps taken to prepare the data for analysis are discussed, including error correction, smoothing, and collapsing to monthly summary records. This preparation yields a manageable data base which includes monthly summary statistics on travel and fuel use. A statistical smoothing of fuel purchase data was used to reduce the uncertainty in fuel economy calculations introduced by the difference between fuel purchased and fuel consumed. Collapsing to monthly summaries also was done to standardize the observations across the data base to uniform time periods. An overview is given of available data on in-use fuel economy, vehicle miles of travel, and fuel demand, highlighting the quarterly trends in these variables. The data presented are divided into three parts: in-use fuel economy, vehicle miles of travel, and fuel demand and fuel prices. (ERA citation 09:037864)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Portions are illegible in Microfiche Products.
• Corporate Authors:

  Energy and Environmental Analysis, Incorporated

  1111 North 19th Street
  Arlington, VA  United States  22209
• Publication Date: 1982-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 122 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile travel; Data analysis; Data collection; Databases; Demand; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Gasoline; Mathematical analysis; Prices; Purchasing; Statistical analysis; Statistical trends; Surveys; Vehicle miles of travel
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391763
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOE/PE/70045-T19
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 1985 12:00AM