Gasoline consumption in California hit a record.

The state’s motorists bought more than 1 billion gallons of gasoline in July, the highest total ever for the month, according to the state Board of Equalization. The total for the peak vacation month was 1.027 billion gallons, up 5.1% from June, up 3.5% from July, 1984, and up 10.4% from July, 1983. The state agency, which collects the 9-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax, said it was the first July since 1978 to exceed 1 billion gallons.