Gasoline demand in the week to Dec. 21 fell 5.4 percent from year-ago levels, the data showed. The four-week moving average for demand also fell last week, down 3.3 from year-ago levels.

Weekly demand, however, was 4.5 percent higher than the week to Dec 14.

At an average $3.23 a gallon, gasoline prices fell 8 cents from a week ago but were equal to levels recorded last year, MasterCard added.

MasterCard Advisors, a unit of MasterCard Inc, estimates retail gasoline demand based on aggregate sales in the MasterCard payments system coupled with estimates for other payment forms including cash and checks.