Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) stagnate or fall during recessions: Twelve-month rolling average of total VMT (trillions of miles), December 1970--March 2017
| Date | VMT (12-month rolling average) |
|---|---|
| Dec-1970 | 1.12 |
| Jan-1971 | 1.125 |
| Feb-1971 | 1.128 |
| Mar-1971 | 1.131 |
| Apr-1971 | 1.139 |
| May-1971 | 1.145 |
| Jun-1971 | 1.15 |
| Jul-1971 | 1.156 |
| Aug-1971 | 1.162 |
| Sep-1971 | 1.168 |
| Oct-1971 | 1.174 |
| Nov-1971 | 1.18 |
| Dec-1971 | 1.186 |
| Jan-1972 | 1.193 |
| Feb-1972 | 1.201 |
| Mar-1972 | 1.211 |
| Apr-1972 | 1.216 |
| May-1972 | 1.223 |
| Jun-1972 | 1.231 |
| Jul-1972 | 1.237 |
| Aug-1972 | 1.245 |
| Sep-1972 | 1.251 |
| Oct-1972 | 1.258 |
| Nov-1972 | 1.263 |
| Dec-1972 | 1.268 |
| Jan-1973 | 1.273 |
| Feb-1973 | 1.277 |
| Mar-1973 | 1.281 |
| Apr-1973 | 1.286 |
| May-1973 | 1.29 |
| Jun-1973 | 1.293 |
| Jul-1973 | 1.296 |
| Aug-1973 | 1.3 |
| Sep-1973 | 1.303 |
| Oct-1973 | 1.307 |
| Nov-1973 | 1.31 |
| Dec-1973 | 1.308 |
| Jan-1974 | 1.307 |
| Feb-1974 | 1.301 |
| Mar-1974 | 1.294 |
| Apr-1974 | 1.29 |
| May-1974 | 1.288 |
| Jun-1974 | 1.286 |
| Jul-1974 | 1.285 |
| Aug-1974 | 1.284 |
| Sep-1974 | 1.283 |
| Oct-1974 | 1.283 |
| Nov-1974 | 1.283 |
| Dec-1974 | 1.29 |
| Jan-1975 | 1.293 |
| Feb-1975 | 1.298 |
| Mar-1975 | 1.303 |
| Apr-1975 | 1.306 |
| May-1975 | 1.31 |
| Jun-1975 | 1.315 |
| Jul-1975 | 1.318 |
| Aug-1975 | 1.32 |
| Sep-1975 | 1.323 |
| Oct-1975 | 1.325 |
| Nov-1975 | 1.327 |
| Dec-1975 | 1.33 |
| Jan-1976 | 1.334 |
| Feb-1976 | 1.341 |
| Mar-1976 | 1.35 |
| Apr-1976 | 1.36 |
| May-1976 | 1.366 |
| Jun-1976 | 1.372 |
| Jul-1976 | 1.378 |
| Aug-1976 | 1.384 |
| Sep-1976 | 1.392 |
| Oct-1976 | 1.398 |
| Nov-1976 | 1.404 |
| Dec-1976 | 1.409 |
| Jan-1977 | 1.409 |
| Feb-1977 | 1.413 |
| Mar-1977 | 1.419 |
| Apr-1977 | 1.423 |
| May-1977 | 1.429 |
| Jun-1977 | 1.434 |
| Jul-1977 | 1.439 |
| Aug-1977 | 1.444 |
| Sep-1977 | 1.449 |
| Oct-1977 | 1.455 |
| Nov-1977 | 1.46 |
| Dec-1977 | 1.463 |
| Jan-1978 | 1.471 |
| Feb-1978 | 1.475 |
| Mar-1978 | 1.48 |
| Apr-1978 | 1.482 |
| May-1978 | 1.487 |
| Jun-1978 | 1.497 |
| Jul-1978 | 1.509 |
| Aug-1978 | 1.522 |
| Sep-1978 | 1.529 |
| Oct-1978 | 1.535 |
| Nov-1978 | 1.54 |
| Dec-1978 | 1.548 |
| Jan-1979 | 1.553 |
| Feb-1979 | 1.555 |
| Mar-1979 | 1.562 |
| Apr-1979 | 1.569 |
| May-1979 | 1.566 |
| Jun-1979 | 1.559 |
| Jul-1979 | 1.545 |
| Aug-1979 | 1.536 |
| Sep-1979 | 1.532 |
| Oct-1979 | 1.531 |
| Nov-1979 | 1.531 |
| Dec-1979 | 1.529 |
| Jan-1980 | 1.531 |
| Feb-1980 | 1.529 |
| Mar-1980 | 1.523 |
| Apr-1980 | 1.519 |
| May-1980 | 1.518 |
| Jun-1980 | 1.518 |
| Jul-1980 | 1.52 |
| Aug-1980 | 1.518 |
| Sep-1980 | 1.518 |
| Oct-1980 | 1.519 |
| Nov-1980 | 1.519 |
| Dec-1980 | 1.521 |
| Jan-1981 | 1.52 |
| Feb-1981 | 1.523 |
| Mar-1981 | 1.525 |
| Apr-1981 | 1.528 |
| May-1981 | 1.531 |
| Jun-1981 | 1.535 |
| Jul-1981 | 1.54 |
| Aug-1981 | 1.545 |
| Sep-1981 | 1.549 |
| Oct-1981 | 1.549 |
| Nov-1981 | 1.551 |
| Dec-1981 | 1.55 |
| Jan-1982 | 1.544 |
| Feb-1982 | 1.542 |
| Mar-1982 | 1.542 |
| Apr-1982 | 1.543 |
| May-1982 | 1.549 |
| Jun-1982 | 1.556 |
| Jul-1982 | 1.567 |
| Aug-1982 | 1.577 |
| Sep-1982 | 1.582 |
| Oct-1982 | 1.588 |
| Nov-1982 | 1.59 |
| Dec-1982 | 1.592 |
| Jan-1983 | 1.602 |
| Feb-1983 | 1.606 |
| Mar-1983 | 1.611 |
| Apr-1983 | 1.614 |
| May-1983 | 1.617 |
| Jun-1983 | 1.622 |
| Jul-1983 | 1.627 |
| Aug-1983 | 1.631 |
| Sep-1983 | 1.635 |
| Oct-1983 | 1.64 |
| Nov-1983 | 1.646 |
| Dec-1983 | 1.649 |
| Jan-1984 | 1.652 |
| Feb-1984 | 1.658 |
| Mar-1984 | 1.662 |
| Apr-1984 | 1.671 |
| May-1984 | 1.678 |
| Jun-1984 | 1.685 |
| Jul-1984 | 1.69 |
| Aug-1984 | 1.697 |
| Sep-1984 | 1.703 |
| Oct-1984 | 1.707 |
| Nov-1984 | 1.71 |
| Dec-1984 | 1.717 |
| Jan-1985 | 1.718 |
| Feb-1985 | 1.72 |
| Mar-1985 | 1.727 |
| Apr-1985 | 1.734 |
| May-1985 | 1.739 |
| Jun-1985 | 1.745 |
| Jul-1985 | 1.75 |
| Aug-1985 | 1.754 |
| Sep-1985 | 1.759 |
| Oct-1985 | 1.766 |
| Nov-1985 | 1.769 |
| Dec-1985 | 1.775 |
| Jan-1986 | 1.784 |
| Feb-1986 | 1.788 |
| Mar-1986 | 1.795 |
| Apr-1986 | 1.797 |
| May-1986 | 1.801 |
| Jun-1986 | 1.805 |
| Jul-1986 | 1.809 |
| Aug-1986 | 1.813 |
| Sep-1986 | 1.818 |
| Oct-1986 | 1.823 |
| Nov-1986 | 1.83 |
| Dec-1986 | 1.838 |
| Jan-1987 | 1.845 |
| Feb-1987 | 1.858 |
| Mar-1987 | 1.864 |
| Apr-1987 | 1.874 |
| May-1987 | 1.881 |
| Jun-1987 | 1.886 |
| Jul-1987 | 1.891 |
| Aug-1987 | 1.894 |
| Sep-1987 | 1.903 |
| Oct-1987 | 1.911 |
| Nov-1987 | 1.918 |
| Dec-1987 | 1.924 |
| Jan-1988 | 1.933 |
| Feb-1988 | 1.939 |
| Mar-1988 | 1.949 |
| Apr-1988 | 1.956 |
| May-1988 | 1.967 |
| Jun-1988 | 1.977 |
| Jul-1988 | 1.986 |
| Aug-1988 | 1.994 |
| Sep-1988 | 2 |
| Oct-1988 | 2.009 |
| Nov-1988 | 2.016 |
| Dec-1988 | 2.026 |
| Jan-1989 | 2.036 |
| Feb-1989 | 2.041 |
| Mar-1989 | 2.049 |
| Apr-1989 | 2.056 |
| May-1989 | 2.063 |
| Jun-1989 | 2.068 |
| Jul-1989 | 2.075 |
| Aug-1989 | 2.084 |
| Sep-1989 | 2.09 |
| Oct-1989 | 2.098 |
| Nov-1989 | 2.104 |
| Dec-1989 | 2.107 |
| Jan-1990 | 2.111 |
| Feb-1990 | 2.118 |
| Mar-1990 | 2.121 |
| Apr-1990 | 2.126 |
| May-1990 | 2.131 |
| Jun-1990 | 2.136 |
| Jul-1990 | 2.141 |
| Aug-1990 | 2.143 |
| Sep-1990 | 2.145 |
| Oct-1990 | 2.145 |
| Nov-1990 | 2.146 |
| Dec-1990 | 2.148 |
| Jan-1991 | 2.142 |
| Feb-1991 | 2.142 |
| Mar-1991 | 2.142 |
| Apr-1991 | 2.142 |
| May-1991 | 2.145 |
| Jun-1991 | 2.149 |
| Jul-1991 | 2.152 |
| Aug-1991 | 2.159 |
| Sep-1991 | 2.164 |
| Oct-1991 | 2.17 |
| Nov-1991 | 2.168 |
| Dec-1991 | 2.172 |
| Jan-1992 | 2.182 |
| Feb-1992 | 2.189 |
| Mar-1992 | 2.194 |
| Apr-1992 | 2.2 |
| May-1992 | 2.205 |
| Jun-1992 | 2.209 |
| Jul-1992 | 2.217 |
| Aug-1992 | 2.218 |
| Sep-1992 | 2.225 |
| Oct-1992 | 2.231 |
| Nov-1992 | 2.239 |
| Dec-1992 | 2.247 |
| Jan-1993 | 2.251 |
| Feb-1993 | 2.254 |
| Mar-1993 | 2.258 |
| Apr-1993 | 2.261 |
| May-1993 | 2.27 |
| Jun-1993 | 2.272 |
| Jul-1993 | 2.275 |
| Aug-1993 | 2.28 |
| Sep-1993 | 2.283 |
| Oct-1993 | 2.286 |
| Nov-1993 | 2.291 |
| Dec-1993 | 2.297 |
| Jan-1994 | 2.294 |
| Feb-1994 | 2.298 |
| Mar-1994 | 2.306 |
| Apr-1994 | 2.313 |
| May-1994 | 2.314 |
| Jun-1994 | 2.321 |
| Jul-1994 | 2.326 |
| Aug-1994 | 2.332 |
| Sep-1994 | 2.339 |
| Oct-1994 | 2.344 |
| Nov-1994 | 2.351 |
| Dec-1994 | 2.358 |
| Jan-1995 | 2.382 |
| Feb-1995 | 2.387 |
| Mar-1995 | 2.392 |
| Apr-1995 | 2.395 |
| May-1995 | 2.401 |
| Jun-1995 | 2.405 |
| Jul-1995 | 2.407 |
| Aug-1995 | 2.411 |
| Sep-1995 | 2.415 |
| Oct-1995 | 2.418 |
| Nov-1995 | 2.423 |
| Dec-1995 | 2.423 |
| Jan-1996 | 2.412 |
| Feb-1996 | 2.418 |
| Mar-1996 | 2.421 |
| Apr-1996 | 2.428 |
| May-1996 | 2.434 |
| Jun-1996 | 2.438 |
| Jul-1996 | 2.446 |
| Aug-1996 | 2.456 |
| Sep-1996 | 2.46 |
| Oct-1996 | 2.469 |
| Nov-1996 | 2.474 |
| Dec-1996 | 2.482 |
| Jan-1997 | 2.489 |
| Feb-1997 | 2.496 |
| Mar-1997 | 2.504 |
| Apr-1997 | 2.51 |
| May-1997 | 2.517 |
| Jun-1997 | 2.524 |
| Jul-1997 | 2.536 |
| Aug-1997 | 2.54 |
| Sep-1997 | 2.546 |
| Oct-1997 | 2.552 |
| Nov-1997 | 2.555 |
| Dec-1997 | 2.56 |
| Jan-1998 | 2.567 |
| Feb-1998 | 2.57 |
| Mar-1998 | 2.573 |
| Apr-1998 | 2.579 |
| May-1998 | 2.581 |
| Jun-1998 | 2.588 |
| Jul-1998 | 2.591 |
| Aug-1998 | 2.594 |
| Sep-1998 | 2.6 |
| Oct-1998 | 2.608 |
| Nov-1998 | 2.616 |
| Dec-1998 | 2.625 |
| Jan-1999 | 2.622 |
| Feb-1999 | 2.626 |
| Mar-1999 | 2.633 |
| Apr-1999 | 2.636 |
| May-1999 | 2.639 |
| Jun-1999 | 2.646 |
| Jul-1999 | 2.649 |
| Aug-1999 | 2.654 |
| Sep-1999 | 2.659 |
| Oct-1999 | 2.664 |
| Nov-1999 | 2.674 |
| Dec-1999 | 2.679 |
| Jan-2000 | 2.689 |
| Feb-2000 | 2.697 |
| Mar-2000 | 2.709 |
| Apr-2000 | 2.716 |
| May-2000 | 2.727 |
| Jun-2000 | 2.734 |
| Jul-2000 | 2.736 |
| Aug-2000 | 2.743 |
| Sep-2000 | 2.746 |
| Oct-2000 | 2.749 |
| Nov-2000 | 2.75 |
| Dec-2000 | 2.747 |
| Jan-2001 | 2.753 |
| Feb-2001 | 2.755 |
| Mar-2001 | 2.755 |
| Apr-2001 | 2.76 |
| May-2001 | 2.763 |
| Jun-2001 | 2.763 |
| Jul-2001 | 2.768 |
| Aug-2001 | 2.774 |
| Sep-2001 | 2.772 |
| Oct-2001 | 2.777 |
| Nov-2001 | 2.784 |
| Dec-2001 | 2.796 |
| Jan-2002 | 2.801 |
| Feb-2002 | 2.809 |
| Mar-2002 | 2.812 |
| Apr-2002 | 2.817 |
| May-2002 | 2.823 |
| Jun-2002 | 2.827 |
| Jul-2002 | 2.833 |
| Aug-2002 | 2.839 |
| Sep-2002 | 2.846 |
| Oct-2002 | 2.851 |
| Nov-2002 | 2.851 |
| Dec-2002 | 2.856 |
| Jan-2003 | 2.859 |
| Feb-2003 | 2.854 |
| Mar-2003 | 2.855 |
| Apr-2003 | 2.857 |
| May-2003 | 2.859 |
| Jun-2003 | 2.863 |
| Jul-2003 | 2.869 |
| Aug-2003 | 2.871 |
| Sep-2003 | 2.874 |
| Oct-2003 | 2.883 |
| Nov-2003 | 2.886 |
| Dec-2003 | 2.89 |
| Jan-2004 | 2.894 |
| Feb-2004 | 2.904 |
| Mar-2004 | 2.919 |
| Apr-2004 | 2.93 |
| May-2004 | 2.934 |
| Jun-2004 | 2.94 |
| Jul-2004 | 2.944 |
| Aug-2004 | 2.946 |
| Sep-2004 | 2.952 |
| Oct-2004 | 2.952 |
| Nov-2004 | 2.958 |
| Dec-2004 | 2.965 |
| Jan-2005 | 2.966 |
| Feb-2005 | 2.973 |
| Mar-2005 | 2.974 |
| Apr-2005 | 2.974 |
| May-2005 | 2.98 |
| Jun-2005 | 2.986 |
| Jul-2005 | 2.987 |
| Aug-2005 | 2.99 |
| Sep-2005 | 2.988 |
| Oct-2005 | 2.985 |
| Nov-2005 | 2.989 |
| Dec-2005 | 2.989 |
| Jan-2006 | 2.999 |
| Feb-2006 | 2.999 |
| Mar-2006 | 3.003 |
| Apr-2006 | 3.003 |
| May-2006 | 3.003 |
| Jun-2006 | 3.003 |
| Jul-2006 | 3 |
| Aug-2006 | 3 |
| Sep-2006 | 3.003 |
| Oct-2006 | 3.01 |
| Nov-2006 | 3.012 |
| Dec-2006 | 3.014 |
| Jan-2007 | 3.015 |
| Feb-2007 | 3.013 |
| Mar-2007 | 3.016 |
| Apr-2007 | 3.019 |
| May-2007 | 3.023 |
| Jun-2007 | 3.024 |
| Jul-2007 | 3.028 |
| Aug-2007 | 3.034 |
| Sep-2007 | 3.035 |
| Oct-2007 | 3.038 |
| Nov-2007 | 3.039 |
| Dec-2007 | 3.031 |
| Jan-2008 | 3.031 |
| Feb-2008 | 3.033 |
| Mar-2008 | 3.026 |
| Apr-2008 | 3.026 |
| May-2008 | 3.021 |
| Jun-2008 | 3.011 |
| Jul-2008 | 3.006 |
| Aug-2008 | 2.996 |
| Sep-2008 | 2.989 |
| Oct-2008 | 2.984 |
| Nov-2008 | 2.975 |
| Dec-2008 | 2.977 |
| Jan-2009 | 2.968 |
| Feb-2009 | 2.964 |
| Mar-2009 | 2.959 |
| Apr-2009 | 2.958 |
| May-2009 | 2.955 |
| Jun-2009 | 2.957 |
| Jul-2009 | 2.96 |
| Aug-2009 | 2.959 |
| Sep-2009 | 2.963 |
| Oct-2009 | 2.959 |
| Nov-2009 | 2.959 |
| Dec-2009 | 2.957 |
| Jan-2010 | 2.952 |
| Feb-2010 | 2.945 |
| Mar-2010 | 2.949 |
| Apr-2010 | 2.952 |
| May-2010 | 2.951 |
| Jun-2010 | 2.952 |
| Jul-2010 | 2.953 |
| Aug-2010 | 2.957 |
| Sep-2010 | 2.959 |
| Oct-2010 | 2.963 |
| Nov-2010 | 2.966 |
| Dec-2010 | 2.967 |
| Jan-2011 | 2.97 |
| Feb-2011 | 2.972 |
| Mar-2011 | 2.971 |
| Apr-2011 | 2.966 |
| May-2011 | 2.963 |
| Jun-2011 | 2.961 |
| Jul-2011 | 2.955 |
| Aug-2011 | 2.951 |
| Sep-2011 | 2.948 |
| Oct-2011 | 2.944 |
| Nov-2011 | 2.942 |
| Dec-2011 | 2.946 |
| Jan-2012 | 2.949 |
| Feb-2012 | 2.954 |
| Mar-2012 | 2.956 |
| Apr-2012 | 2.955 |
| May-2012 | 2.962 |
| Jun-2012 | 2.963 |
| Jul-2012 | 2.963 |
| Aug-2012 | 2.966 |
| Sep-2012 | 2.963 |
| Oct-2012 | 2.964 |
| Nov-2012 | 2.966 |
| Dec-2012 | 2.959 |
| Jan-2013 | 2.961 |
| Feb-2013 | 2.958 |
| Mar-2013 | 2.955 |
| Apr-2013 | 2.957 |
| May-2013 | 2.96 |
| Jun-2013 | 2.96 |
| Jul-2013 | 2.965 |
| Aug-2013 | 2.969 |
| Sep-2013 | 2.972 |
| Oct-2013 | 2.978 |
| Nov-2013 | 2.977 |
| Dec-2013 | 2.98 |
| Jan-2014 | 2.979 |
| Feb-2014 | 2.979 |
| Mar-2014 | 2.981 |
| Apr-2014 | 2.988 |
| May-2014 | 2.993 |
| Jun-2014 | 2.998 |
| Jul-2014 | 3.006 |
| Aug-2014 | 3.009 |
| Sep-2014 | 3.016 |
| Oct-2014 | 3.025 |
| Nov-2014 | 3.028 |
| Dec-2014 | 3.041 |
| Jan-2015 | 3.05 |
| Feb-2015 | 3.055 |
| Mar-2015 | 3.063 |
| Apr-2015 | 3.071 |
| May-2015 | 3.077 |
| Jun-2015 | 3.086 |
| Jul-2015 | 3.095 |
| Aug-2015 | 3.1 |
| Sep-2015 | 3.109 |
| Oct-2015 | 3.113 |
| Nov-2015 | 3.122 |
| Dec-2015 | 3.131 |
| Jan-2016 | 3.132 |
| Feb-2016 | 3.141 |
| Mar-2016 | 3.15 |
| Apr-2016 | 3.153 |
| May-2016 | 3.154 |
| Jun-2016 | 3.158 |
| Jul-2016 | 3.158 |
| Aug-2016 | 3.162 |
| Sep-2016 | 3.165 |
| Oct-2016 | 3.165 |
| Nov-2016 | 3.172 |
| Dec-2016 | 3.17 |
| Jan-2017 | 3.175 |
| Feb-2017 | 3.179 |
| Mar-2017 | 3.181 |
Note: Shaded areas denote recessions.
Source: U.S. Federal Highway Administration, “Moving 12-Month Total Vehicle Miles Traveled,” retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis