U.S. petroleum growth to be uneven in better economy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fuel demand growth will be uneven as the U.S. economy recovers, with immediate strength in diesel usage from more business activity than gasoline demand, as the hard-hit American consumer will be slower to get back behind the wheel.

The Energy Department’s latest forecast predicts that the U.S. economy started growing this month for the first time since the recession began in December 2007.

Businesses will soon begin producing more goods, from cars to sodas, and all those items will be transported on vehicles that run on diesel.

“When people buy and consume more, trucks are going to be more active again,” said Edward Chow, energy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Reuters