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Written by: California Board of Equalization

Published: 01 November 2009

Created: 01 November 2009

Last Updated: 01 November 2009

SACRAMENTO – Betty T. Yee, chairwoman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), on Oct. 28 released gasoline and diesel consumption figures for July 2009.

California gasoline demand rose by 2.2 percent in July compared to the same month of the previous year. Demand for on-road diesel fell a substantial 11.2 percent in July from the same period in 2008.

This is the third month of slight increase in gasoline consumption.

In July 2009, gasoline demand rose 2.2 percent when Californians used 1.284 billion gallons of gasoline compared to 1.257 billion gallons the same month last year.

The average California gasoline price at the pump in July was $2.92 per gallon compared to $4.51 in July 2008, a 35.3 percent decrease from a record high price.

State gasoline consumption had increased 0.45 percent during the second quarter of 2009 – the first quarterly increase in three years. The increased gas consumption means increased gas tax revenues.

Gasoline sold in July generated approximately $310 million in sales tax during that month, an estimated $109 million less than generated last year.

July sales tax revenues from gasoline would have been about $35 million less had not the state portion of the sales and use tax rate increased from 5 percent to 6 percent on April 1.

Diesel fuel sold in California during July totaled 215.77 million gallons compared to last year’s July total of 243.10 million gallons, which is a decline of 11.2 percent.

California diesel prices were $2.73 per gallon in July 2009 down 44.9 percent compared to July 2008 when the average diesel price was $4.97 per gallon.

While the diesel gallons reflected in the July numbers are down 27.3 million gallons, indicating a decline of 11.2 percent, the reduction in consumption is likely to be less.

The actual decline may be closer to 17.7 million gallons, a decline of 7.3 percent, because the July 2009 figures include refunded gallons of 9.6 million gallons. The gallons included in the monthly consumption numbers are always net of audit assessments and refunds. The July 2009 refunds were larger than most and may have skewed the actual amount of decline.

Last month, the BOE reported that diesel consumption in California declined 8.8 percent in the second quarter of 2009. Diesel consumption generally follows economic activity during a recession.

The BOE is able to monitor gallons through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors. Figures for August 2009 are scheduled to be available at the end of November 2009.

All monthly, quarterly, and annual figures can be viewed at: www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spftrpts.htm .

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Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture

Published: 01 November 2009

Created: 01 November 2009

Last Updated: 01 November 2009

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing vacancies on two advisory boards within the Inspection Services Division.

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division protects consumers and the marketplace through inspection of fruit, vegetables and eggs as well as through regulation of commercial feed and agricultural inputs (fertilizers and livestock drugs).

Member vacancies are available on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board and the Feed Inspection Advisory Board.

The Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to the Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program. The program ensures that consumers receive fertilizing materials that are safe and effective and the meet the quality guaranteed by the manufacturer. One public member vacancy is available.

Applicants should not hold a current California Fertilizing Materials License or be a representative of a licensed fertilizer firm.

The Feed Inspection Advisory Board makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to the Feed Inspection Program. The program ensures that feed manufacturers provide a clean and wholesome product to consumers. Four member vacancies are available on the advisory board for commercial feed industry representatives. Applicants should hold a current California Commercial Feed License.

The term of office for advisory board members is three years. Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

Individuals interested in serving on advisory board should send a resume by Dec. 31 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Feed, Fertilizer, Livestock Drugs and Egg Regulatory Services Branch, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-5607, Attention: Dr. Asif A. Maan.

For additional information on CDFA’s Inspection Services Division and associated advisory boards, please contact Mr. Dale Rice at (916) 445-0444 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Written by: Editor

Published: 28 October 2009

Created: 28 October 2009

Last Updated: 28 October 2009

SACRAMENTO – Betty T. Yee, chairwoman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), has announced that taxable sales in California decreased 2.7 percent in the third quarter of 2008, reflecting impacts of the national recession, which began in December 2007.

California’s taxable sales totaled $136 billion in the third quarter of 2008, down $3.8 billion from the third quarter of 2007.

This was the fifth straight quarter of declines in taxable sales, lasting longer than either of the recessions in 1991 or 2001.

Income growth continued to be much stronger than taxable sales, a trend in evidence since early 2007.

In the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, taxable sales decreased 2.3 percent from the same quarter the previous year, a performance only slightly better than the 2.7 percent decline for California as a whole.

In Oakland, taxable sales declined 16.9 percent, which is just 3.4 percent of the total taxable sales in the First Equalization District.

In San Francisco, taxable sales rose by 5.3 percent in the third quarter of 2008, which represents 12.8 percent of the total taxable sales in the First Equalization District.

In San Jose, taxable sales declined by 0.9 percent, which is 10.6 percent of the First District’s total.

In constant dollar terms, taxable sales decreased by 7.5 percent over the same quarter a year ago. The California Taxable Sales Deflator measured an inflation rate of 5.1 percent for the third quarter of 2008. By comparison, the California CPI rose 4.6 percent. Record-high gas prices were largely responsible for the increase in the deflator.

The decline in the first three quarters constant-dollar taxable sales of 2008 have not been as steep since 1991. Constant-dollar taxable sales have decreased since the third quarter of 2007, which has not happened since 1993.

While taxable sales declined 2.7 percent in the third quarter, income rose 3.0 percent. This is consistent with typical growth patterns during periods of economic weakness. Historical data show that quarterly taxable sales rose much less rapidly than incomes in the early 1980s, the early 1990s and early in this decade.

Taxable Sales in California is a quarterly report on retail sales activity in California, as measured by transactions subject to sales and use tax.  It includes data about statewide taxable sales by type of business, as well as data about taxable sales in all California cities and counties from the first quarter of 2000 through the third quarter of 2008 and can be viewed on the BOE Web site at: www.boe.ca.gov/news/tsalescont.htm .

View all TAXABLE SALEs in California for the third quarter of 2008 here: www.boe.ca.gov/news/tsalescont08.htm .