Words have meanings, including the word recession, which refers to economic growth.
That said, I'm not sure why "disposable income per employed individual" is inconsistent with more fuel efficient cars.
Nelder specifically cites a decline in manufacturing as one of the reasons for a decline in oil consumption (in the comments),. Nevertheless, over the time span he mentions, there has been no decline in manufacturing. What more proof do you need that Nelder is basically a fabulist who will say anything to support his pre-determined thesis.
Here is the US manufacturing. Since 2005, it went up, then down, then back up again. This is not a "cancer patient" wasting away, re:less of what Nelder pretends.
http://www.scdigest.com/assets/newsviews/12-07-19-1.php?CID=6028 
