US summer gasoline demand down 3.9 pct-MasterCard

NEW YORK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline demand during the summer driving season was 3.9 percent below the same period last year due to high fuel prices, MasterCard Advisors said Wednesday.

Gasoline prices, which last week were 32.6 percent above last year's levels, have kept American motorists off the road this summer, according to Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis at MasterCard Advisors.

The U.S. driving season lasts from Memorial Day in May to Labor Day in September.

U.S. gasoline demand was unchanged last week as lower demand in most regions of the country was outweighed by heavy demand for the fuel in the Gulf Coast region ahead of Hurricane Gustav.

American motorists pumped an average of 9.579 million barrels per day in the week that ended Aug. 29, 1.6 percent below year-ago levels.

Demand for gasoline at the Gulf jumped 5.5 percent as drivers stocked up on fuel ahead of the storm.

"It's very obvious that there was pumping ahead of Gustav," McNamara said.

The four-week moving average for gasoline demand was 4.1 percent below the same period last year.

Average gasoline prices dipped another four cents last week to $3.66 per gallon.