VMT Better than Official GDP?

[3467]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-04-06/these-charts-better-not-represent-true-state-us-economy

I ignored the gas consumption because we are much more efficient than years ago but VMT may be a good proxy
Last month it looks we only imported 7.3 million bpd .

What do you think of VMT as better GDP indicator?

[NE2]

I think you know the flaws of that, given that you posted this in mass transit...

[3467]

My internet was acting up I was aiming for off -topic. I thought it did not post at all!
I guess you could add mass-transit ridership and airline too.

[deathtopumpkins]

I don't see how you can blame your internet acting up for posting something in the wrong board, but if you were aiming for Off Topic, then it has been moved there.

[Duke87]

Purchasing trends of one product do not indicate the whole economy. Sales of video tapes have dropped drastically in the last 15 years, too - but that doesn't mean the economy has equally crashed.

With regards to miles driven, what you are seeing is the supply/demand effect of the price of gas going up. Since gas is more expensive, people find ways to drive less. Be it by combining errands more, moving closer to work, taking public transit instead, or going on fewer road trips.

And perhaps that does disturb the economy a bit because the more people have to pay for energy the less they have to spend on other things. Of course, even then, it benefits the oil companies, so the money doesn't vanish.


I wonder what the graph would look like if you multiplied the gallons of gas sold by the inflaton-adjusted price per gallon. Betcha then the graph wouldn't have such a dip.

[cpzilliacus]

I wonder what the graph would look like if you multiplied the gallons of gas sold by the inflaton-adjusted price per gallon. Betcha then the graph wouldn't have such a dip.

I agree.  What has presumably declined are the non-work discretionary trips (and VMT associated with same).