Let's see:
*Cars today use A LOT LESS fuel/output than even 10 years ago.
(Even Deisels)
*More oil recycled now as well.
*More Plastics recycled too.
Should equal less crude-oil demand, more supply = lower prices at pump???
But this is NOT the case...I wonder if the suppliers are feeling the "Crunch" of NOT selling as much as previous years, and are supplementing profits by raising prices...???????????????
If so, prices will just continue to increase as fast as technology cuts the demand....
(Kinda like "that" gas station out in BFE, that hardly stays in buisness, and is priced 25% higher than a high volume station.)

Oh, fuel prices are a small price to pay for the pleasure of driving a Camaro, hopefully in under 2 years.
I still drive my 5600+ lb Suburban, 14-16mpg, b/c it's a blast! to drive, especially in winter or off-road.

 

Worldwide crude oil demand increased about 3% last year, a slightly higher increase than in recent years.

 

I guess it could have more to do with powering homes and buisnesses, but more efficient HVAC and appliances should be cutting the appetites there, leaving only New Customers like China??perhaps...

 

Plus just the raw numbers of vehicles on the road have increased every year. Even though the average mpg has gotten better, it has been more than offset by the increase in the volume of vehicles on the road.