La. still ranks high in oil consumption relative to income

A new analysis says Louisiana ranks third in the country for vulnerability to changes in oil prices. The report, released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, bases its conclusions on how much of their annual income drivers spend on gasoline. The average Louisiana driver spent 5.26% of their income in 2009, or $1,909, on fuel. That’s down from 2008, when Louisiana residents were spending $2,541 annually on gas. Despite the decrease in spending due to lower oil prices, Louisiana actually moved up from last year, when it was the fifth most dependent state. Mississippi continued to top the list as the state most vulnerable to oil price changes. Residents there spent 6.2% of their income, or $1,881, on fuel. Connecticut continued to rank 50th, with residents spending 2.5% of their annual income, or $1,391. See the full report here.