Diesel consumption last month remained below pre-Covid levels and down 3 per cent lower than the year-ago levels, while that of petrol grew by 8.7 per cent, compared to December 2019, according to the sales data from state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation.
A nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 in March and restrictions on the movement of people and goods in subsequent months led to a sharp decline in the consumption of petroleum products across the country. Diesel consumption, which accounts for around 40 per cent of total fuel consumption in the country, is considered a key indicator of economic activity.
