The average fuel economy of cars and light duty trucks in the United States increased for the fourth consecutive year reaching a projected 20.8 miles per gallon for 2008, says a report by the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. This figure Is 0.2 mpg higher than last year’s average fuel economy.

However, the final data for 2008 will not be available until automakers submit their final annual sales data in early 2009. EPA expects that the final average fuel economy for 2008 will still be higher than initial projections of automakers since gasoline prices have since increased.

The EPA has seen an upward trend in the average fuel efficiency in America beginning in 2005. The average national fuel economy is now the highest since 1983. Most of the increase is attributed to higher fuel economy for light trucks following a long-term trend of slightly declining overall fuel economy that peaked in 1987. Market share of light trucks have also slid from 52% in 2004 to an estimated 48% in 2008.

Via The Auto Channel