US gasoline demand up in latest week -MasterCard

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline demand last week rose 2.2 percent from a year ago, according to a MasterCard SpendingPulse report released on Tuesday.

"Year-over-year comparisons are up due to the 2008 financial crisis last year that depresses consumer spending, mobility and gasoline pumping," said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis at MasterCard Advisors.

Gasoline demand averaged 9.097 million barrels per day during the week ending Nov. 6, down 2.3 percent from the previous week, according to the weekly report.

The four-week moving average of U.S. gasoline consumption, however, climbed 3.6 percent year-over-year.

Retail prices for gasoline dropped 1 cent to a national average of $2.67 a gallon, 15.1 percent above year-ago levels.

MasterCard Advisors estimates retail gasoline demand based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments system coupled with estimates for all other payment forms including cash and checks. MasterCard Advisors is a unit of MasterCard Inc (MA.N). (Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by David Gregorio)