Commuting Americans -- Where Do We Stand? -- August 31, 2020

Depending on "how you count the months," it's either been eight months or five months since the lock downs began. 

Re-posting:

We'll get the latest US gasoline demand numbers later, but from the PR Newswire: 61 million Americans have stopped commuting due to Covid-19. Link here. Only one in four are back to their regular commutes as of August, 2020.

Spin-offs:

• fewer tires bought; fewer batteries replaced; less maintenance overall; 
• fewer fender-benders; fewer deer hit; fewer windshield chips due to thrown gravel;
  
• lower insurance rates;
• lower automobile repair rates; less money paid out of pocket for deductibles;
  
• lower gasoline demand:
• excess gasoline leads to lower prices per gallon
• less driving leads to fewer gallons bought
• parking garages in major cities noting decreased revenue;
• less congestion in major cities (and fear of mass transit) leading some older adults to buy their first car ever;
• less shopping and less dining out overall (mostly due to lockdowns but also people less inclined to drive in the first place)
• folks will put off new-car purchases until they really need a new car;
• car sales way down;