By David B. Wilkerson
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- A significant increase in gasoline prices in California led to a 4.1% decline in gas consumption in May, the state's Board of Equalization said Wednesday. May was the second straight month of decreased consumption. Total gasoline used by Californians in May fell to 1.24 billion gallons from 1.29 billion in May of 2010. Over that span, the average price in California for a gallon of gas rose 35% to $4.23 a gallon. "Low-income households that were particularly hard hit by the recession experienced further financial distress due to the high price of gasoline in California," said Jerome Horton, chairman of California's Board of Equalization, in a statement. Meanwhile, diesel fuel consumption in the state rose 4% in May, to 213 million gallons.
