Californians bought less gas in April as price neared $4.25

Gasoline consumption in California fell in April as the state’s motorists felt the pinch of high fuel prices, the California State Board of Equalization said.

The $4.245 average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in April was a record high for the month, according to the Energy Department statistics. In response, “Californians continue altering their driving habits,” said California Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome E. Horton, adding that the amount of the drop was “in line with similar declines during the past 12 months.”

Gasoline consumption in California in April was 1.18 billion gallons, down 1.7% from the 1.2 billion gallons consumed in April 2011. California gasoline consumption has fallen in 12 of the last 14 months, according to the Equalization Board’s statistics.

The Board of Equalization monitors gasoline consumption using tax receipts paid by the state’s fuel distributors.

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