US Vehicle Miles Traveled

Peak Oil Stress Map

Odd Distribution of Snow

Chinese Transportation Growth

GDP/mile across countries

GDP/Mile in various countries in 2008 - see text for details of methods

Driving is Extremely Inelastic

US economic output (GDP in chained 2005 dollars) per vehicle mile traveled 1960-2008 (left scale), together with annual average oil prices adjusted for inflation to 2008 dollars (right scale). Source: FHWA for VMT data, BEA for GDP, and BP for oil prices.

US Competitiveness in a Tight Oil Era

Value of goods and services produced per barrel of oil in various countries, 1980-2008. Comparisons are done at purchasing power parity, and corrected for inflation to 2005 dollars. Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook for GDP data, BEA table 1.1.4 for deflator, and BP for oil consumption data.

US Economic Recovery in the Era of Inelastic Oil

Ok, suppose you'd never heard of peak oil.

Or you didn't believe in it.

What could you conclude from the recent history of price and global oil supply?