From MEMA Industry News

After April 2009 broke the nearly year-and-half streak of falling year-over-year monthly mileage, it is welcome news that May continued the trend. Preliminary total vehicle travel reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Highway Policy (OHPI) show a 0.07 percent increase compared to May 2008.

The year-to-date total remains down, 0.82 percent compared to the same time in 2008, however that is also an improvement. In May of 2008, year-to-date travel was 2.5 percent lower than 2007 levels.

Total travel in May was 257,311 million miles, and 29 states posted increases in mileage. Rural travel increased by 0.83 percent, while urban travel fell 0.17 percent compared to May 2008. The rolling 12-month total is 2.77 percent lower, however last month it was down 3.1 percent, so the trend is certainly positive.