Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, Oct. 25 -- High oil prices and dwindling domestic purchase power over the first 9 months of this year pulled down motor fuel consumption in France by 1.9%, indicated the oil trade group Union Francaise des Industries Petrolieres (UFIP).
Unleaded fuel consumption fell by 7.8%, while diesel oil consumption was practically stagnant. What is new, said UFIP Pres. Jean-Louis Schilansky, is the size of the fall. "So far consumption had hovered between plus 1% and minus 0.5%," he said.
However, September figures were up by 3.4% after the strong drop in August. Diesel fuel consumption increased by 5.1%, and unleaded motor fuel demand fell by 1.8%.