Fuel economy in automobiles sold in the United States in October reached a record high, indicating each manufacturer's push for a broader customer base on the strength of lower costs per mile rather than looks or other performance features, new research data indicate.

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, which has been monitoring fuel economy in cars and other vehicles since 2007, said the latest recorded performance showed the best average so far.

The average fuel economy of "window-sticker value" of new vehicles sold in the United States in October was 24.1 miles per gallon, the highest level yet, and up 4 miles per gallon from October 2007, when the institute launched the regular survey.

The results mean there has been a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy in miles per gallon and that corresponds to a 17 percent reduction in fuel consumption or gallons per mile.

The University of Michigan research body operates an Eco-Driving Index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver.

That index, it said, stood at 0.81 in August, an improvement of 19 percent since October 2007. The EDI takes into account both vehicle fuel economy and distance driven -- the latter relying on data that are published with a 2-month lag, said the institute.

Michael Sivak directs a program called Sustainable Worldwide Transportation at the university institute, which itself is monitored with interest by energy use researchers worldwide.

With oil prices staying high and most industrialized countries' economies still struggling to beat effects of the 2008-09 crisis, interest in fuel savings commands a global appeal.

Crude oil prices remained depressed over the weekend, climbing off a recent low under $85 per barrel.

Prices were set back Friday after U.S. Labor Department data said the U.S. unemployment rate rose in October.

Still, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for December delivery added 49 cents Monday morning to $85.35 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while reformulated gasoline added 1.61 cents to $2.5897 a gallon, and home heating oil gained 1.17 cents to hit $2.9591 a gallon.

Analysts say a combination of poor employment outlook and fuel cost considerations are likely to maintain pressure on auto manufacturers in the United States and abroad to keep working at more fuel-efficient models of cars and trucks.

The institute has been looking at not only the big auto makers but also low-volume manufacturers including luxury and sport car brands.

For the very low sales-volume manufacturers, such as Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, the researchers aggregated all vehicle models for each of those manufacturers, calculating one average unadjusted fuel-economy rating.

Likewise, the sales figures for such manufacturers and the models they sold in the U.S. market were aggregated for the survey.