WASHINGTON—The US auto-fuel economy increased 3.9 percent, the largest gain in 26 years, as rising gasoline prices forced consumers to abandon big trucks and turn to fuel-saving alternatives.

The 2007 fleet average climbed to 26.4 miles per gallon (mpg) from 25.4 mpg a year earlier, according to preliminary figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“It’s heartening to see that some car companies are putting useful technology out there,” said David Friedman, research director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based environmental group. “It’s disappointing we’re not seeing an even faster introduction of fuel-saving technology.”

US lawmakers are pushing for an increase in mileage standards as a way to cut emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil. The Senate passed legislation in June requiring cars and light trucks to get 35 mpg starting in 2020. The House is still debating the measure.

Honda Motor Co.’s imported cars, with a 39.9 mpg average, topped the 18 automakers analyzed. Toyota Motor Corp.’s imported car fleet, led by the gasoline-electric Prius hybrid, was second with 38.5 mpg. US Prius sales have gained 87 percent this year.

General Motors Corp.’s domestically built cars had the highest average of any US manufacturer: 29.6 mpg. Toyota’s corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, is likely to “surpass 29 miles per gallon for our total fleet” this year, said Tom Stricker, the automaker’s Washington-based director of technical and regulatory affairs, in an interview today.

Honda expects its fleet average to go up to 29.5 mpg, Ed Cohen, the company’s vice president for government affairs in Washington, said in an interview.

US sales of light trucks in the first seven months of 2007 shrank by 142,184 units from a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp. of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Consumer demand for more fuel-efficient cars and car-based sport-utility vehicles picked up as US gasoline rose to a record $3.22 a gallon in May. (Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT and health groups cautioned senators and the general public from believing that the lingering issues surrounding toxic and radioactive waste under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) have already been resolved.

China owns up to pollution

SHANGHAI—China, the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, has “very serious” pollution problems and must strengthen the enforcement of environmental regulations, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan told government officials.

LONDON—UK sales of organic foods and beverages climbed 22 percent in 2006, spurred by concern about rising obesity rates and farming’s effect on the environment.

WASHINGTON—The US auto-fuel economy increased 3.9 percent, the largest gain in 26 years, as rising gasoline prices forced consumers to abandon big trucks and turn to fuel-saving alternatives.