US demand for petrol flagged in 2011, new figures show. The American Petroleum Institute says this could be because of a shaky consumer sector.

Total petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) fell 1.1% in November compared with a year ago, pulled down by a 1.8% decline in motor gas demand to an 11-year low for the month.

API chief economist John Felmy said: “Flagging gasoline (petrol) demand suggests the consumer sector of the economy is still treading water.” He added the numbers show the industrial sector is faring better.