Fuel Demand Slump May Be Linked to Undocumented Immigrants Driving Less
- Fearing deportation, some may drive less to avoid traffic stop
- Unusual drop in sales at pump to start the peak travel season
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At this time of year, demand for gasoline in the U.S. is normally rising as people head out for summer vacations in a country that has millions more vehicles than any other. But that’s not happening in 2017, and one contributing factor could be that undocumented immigrants are driving less.
Part of the blame for the slowdown may be higher pump prices, but Barclays Capital Inc. says another possible element is the immigration crackdown. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the government is increasingly using routine traffic stops by local police to find and deport people without valid papers. While there’s no data tracking the group’s driving habits, some say they are staying out of their cars to avoid detection.