Demand for gasoline climbed last week and helped to drive a second consecutive gain in U.S. petroleum consumption, while oil production leveled off, new federal data show.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Wednesday overall demand for petroleum products for the period ended Dec. 16 climbed 5% week/week. The increase was driven by a 6% jump in gasoline consumption, according to the agency’s latest Weekly Petroleum Status Report. This followed a 2% increase last week.

Demand rebounded in 2021 and, overall, held at solid levels this year – well above the pandemic lows of 2020. But it has proven choppy. Analysts are concerned it may falter next year amid an anticipated economic slowdown in the United States and globally. During periods of recession, travel...