IHS: US gasoline demand exceeds 2020 levels for first time; still trails pre-pandemic demand significantly Year-on-year gasoline sales in the United States have moved into positive territory for the first time on the one-year anniversary of the first major declines that resulted from COVID-induced stay at home orders. However, demand still trails pre-pandemic levels by a considerable margin, according to the latest data from Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) by IHS Markit. US gasoline same-store sales in gallons for the week ending 20 March 2021 were 10.1% higher than 2020, according to OPIS Demand, a weekly survey of more than 25,000 fuel stations nationwide. Nevertheless, same-store gasoline sales were still 16% below pre-pandemic levels.