SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Board of Equalization (BOE) has released California gasoline and diesel fuel consumption figures for May 2010.

California’s gasoline consumption declined 0.1 percent compared with the same month last year; while diesel fuel consumption declined 2.1 percent in May.

“Gasoline consumption has changed little compared to last spring even though prices have increased more than 60 cents per gallon,” said BOE Chairwoman Betty T. Yee.

Gasoline consumption edged down 0.1 percent in May 2010 when Californians consumed 1.290 billion gallons of gasoline compared to 1.291 billion gallons consumed in May 2009.

California drivers paid an average price at the pump of $3.14 per gallon for gasoline in May 2010, which is an increase of 24 percent compared to May 2009 when the average price at the pump for gasoline was $2.53.

Sales and use tax revenue from gasoline sales in California in May 2010 was $337 million, an increase of $96 million compared to the gasoline sold at the lower price in May 2009 that generated $241 million.

The May 2010 sales and use tax revenue of $337 million includes an additional $37 million due to the one percent sales and use tax rate increase that went into effect on April 1, 2009.

Diesel consumption in May 2010 shows that Californians used 205 million total gallons, which is a 2.1 percent decline from May 2009’s total of 209 million gallons of diesel used in California.

Diesel prices in California in May 2010 were $3.20 per gallon, which is an increase of 36 percent compared to May 2009 when California diesel prices were $2.35 per gallon.

Diesel consumption generally follows economic activity and is especially closely related to construction and transportation of goods.

The BOE is able to monitor gallons through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors. The figures reported monthly are net consumption that includes BOE audit assessments, refunds, amended and late tax returns, and State Controller’s Office refunds.

Figures for June 2010 are scheduled to be available at the end of September 2010.

All monthly, quarterly, and annual figures can be viewed at: www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spftrpts.htm.