Transportation Economic Trends
Government Transportation Revenue and Expenditures:
State Motor Fuel Revenue, State Fuel Taxes, and
Fuel Prices
Each state sets its own motor fuel tax, charging a set price per gallon, which can vary based on type of fuel. Most states dedicate their gas tax revenue toward building and repairing roads and other related infrastructure.
State Motor Fuel Revenue
The map below is built with data from the Census Bureau and shows the amount collected by states in a month. Typically a month's collections are representative of sales in the previous month. Month-to-month, the amount collected changes due to calendar effects such as holidays, season of the year, etc. For example, motorists typically drive more and purchase more fuel in summer months. Comparing the same month year-over-year helps reduce these calendar effects and highlights the effects of changes in fuel price and legislation on motorists decisions to purchase fuel.
Motor Fuel Tax Rates
The U.S. federal excise tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The federal tax was last raised October 1, 1993.
Each
state sets its own gas tax. Most states have a per-unit tax, a flat rate based
on the quantity regardless of price, e.g., cents per gallon. As shown in the
map below, tax rates vary significantly from state to state.
Fuel Prices by Fuel Type and Month
Price of Motor Gasoline (Regular, All Formulations) by Month and Region
Recommended citation
U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Economic Trends, available at www.bts.gov/product/transportation-economic-trends.
