How are rising gas prices affecting your way of life?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
In case you hadn't noticed, it may soon be cheaper to buy whiskey than gasoline. Thursday morning the national average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.53. That's an increase of 39 cents over the last three weeks alone, according to the Energy Department.
And it's not going to get better any time soon. The government predicts the average family will spend $700 more for gasoline in 2011 than in 2010, a 28% increase from last year. That's no small chunk of change when the median household income in this country is about $49,000 a year.
So how high will it go? According a new Gallup Poll, 37% of Americans think prices will hit $3.75 – $4 a gallon in their area. More than a quarter of Americans think gas prices will exceed $5 a gallon. Only 8% of Americans think gas will be less than $3.75.
But before we collectively hyperventilate over this news consider this: In Europe most people pay the equivalent of $7.50 to $8 a gallon. In Greece, gasoline costs about $8.45 a gallon.
The cheapest gas is in OPEC nations like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Egypt because it's heavily subsidized by the governments there.
Here’s my question to you: How are rising gas prices affecting your way of life?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John in New Britain, Pennsylvania:
Not much yet, but luckily I don't have to travel far. I do have a fuel efficient vehicle which helps. Too many people drive mammoth trucks for no reason. Such vehicles also cause more wear and tear on the roads so a tax on heavy large vehicles may be appropriate to encourage people to wise up.
Louis in La Salle, Illinois:
Living in rural area as I do, there is no public transportation, and being as I live on a fixed income, I stay home more. I travel out of need and not pleasure.
Bull:
Jack, I'm retired and hardly go anywhere. But it sure is hurting the working class. I think if the American people would band together and no one turned a wheel for one day you would see gas prices fall like a rock. If it didn't work this week, do it again next week.
Donna in Wisconsin:
We live on a budget and so it is an impact. But we were also smart and bought a Prius in 2008, the last time gas prices went way up. Love that car!
Rick in Temecula, California:
Banks get bailouts, oil companies raise prices when someone in the Middle East sneezes, I run out and get a loan to buy a fuel efficient vehicle. Banks and oil companies win... again.
Roman in Butler, Pennsylvania:
Good thing it's Lent, Jack. Won't have to buy meat for forty days. On a more serious side, it's expensive to do business. Thinking about putting a new engine in the truck, maybe to run natural gas or propane.
Andy in Lynn, Massachusetts:
I've stopped driving. I hitch the horse to my buckboard. If it's good enough for the Amish then it’s good enough for me. My hay bill has gone way up though.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Yes it is Jack. We need to have some hearings on jobs. Maybe call in 1,000 multi-millionaires and grill them on how many jobs they've created since the Bush tax cuts went into effect. The Republicans are focusing on these issues to take the heat off of the important things in our country.
Livig in rural area as I do, there is no public transportation, and being as I live on a fixed income which wall street has desimated and congress and the very rich trying to destroy SS., I stay home more.
I travle out of need and not pleasure.
That being said, I feel very sorry for single mothers with 2 or 3 children. How they do it is beyond me. God bless moms everywhere. LP; La Salle, IL
I know it is speculation that is driving up the price and the more Americans panic the higher the price will go up. There is no gas shortage it is only a BET going on about how much money can speculators loot out of our pockets. So i am not buying gas out of the normal for me i am not going a lot of palaces to use up gas because if we all curtail our usage than the speculators will lose at their own game.
The unrest in the Middle East is not effecting us "WISE UP" Libya only supplied 2% of our gas and Saudi Arabia has made that up. there is no increase due to what is happening in the Middle East. Dont fall for the hype.
Jack I'm retired and hardly go anywhere. But it sure is hurting the working class. I think if the American people would band togeather and no one turned a wheel for one day you would see gas prices fall like a rock. If it didn't work this week do it again next week.
We live on a budget and so it is an impact. BUT we were also smart and bought a Prius in 2008 the last time gas prices went way up. Love that car!
It's having a very real effect. I find myself staying close to home for any need, large or small. No more drives into the countryside for breakfast or lunch. Everything now close to home and staying more at home also.
So far I am fortunate – they've had little impact; if they continue to rise, they will afect some of my discretionary spending; I drive 11 miles to and 11 miles from work everyday. I was contemplating buying some type of SUV vehicle when the time comes to get one. I will be looking at smaller cars and hybrids instead – nothing big.
Not much yet but luckily don't have to travel far. I do have a fuel efficient vehicle which helps, too many people drive mammoth trucks for no reason. Such vehicles also cause more wear and tear on the roads so a tax on heavy large vehicles may be appropriate to encourage people to wise up.
Jack;
I’ve been experiencing the shenanigans of gas prices since the gouging started around 1973. My way of life has been affected by how it has increased my cost of living, and is sucking the value of my retirement.
It also affects my mind that runs riot over the fact we and our government have done almost nothing to fully tackle the problem. How about conservation, like lowering the speed limit, and cutting the horsepower on our cars, and alternatives to driving? Oops, done that before. We have a ping pong politically charged government changing policies, going back and forth after every election, undoing any gains made toward fixing our energy use.
Indeed this it an another example of our broken and antique government, and the beat goes on.
I've stopped driving. i hitch the horse to my buckboard. If it's good enough for the Amish then its good enough for me. My hay bill has gone way up though.And I don't worry about speeding tickets.
The rising gas prices have contributed to cabin fever beyond weather related conditions. Now I can't go to the restaurants or movie theaters or malls that I used to frequent. I even adjusted my normal time for worship to an hour less congested with traffic so that I am being fuel efficient.
Last chance this week to get 'my' 2 cents worth in!
I could care less, it just means I'm staying on 'my' back 40 and not going out spending any money on anything – like most other people are going to do – don't this damn country realize that!
I'm fortunate, I can do that; but what about the rest of civilization can they? We're headed down a steep slope and there is nothing but trees and rocks @ the bottom of it + a big lake. If 'we' get thur the
trees & rocks we'll still be over our heads in debt and the spillway
is only yards away!
Get the picture Jaack?
Lets see the Republicans have been in charge for how many
months now and the gas prices have risen since.
Oh by the way where are all the jobs they promised, I guess
they have to do the Muslin and the planned parenthood thing
first.
We're only driving when necessary. We have no plans of going anywhere on vacation this year. The rising gas prices have put a stop on any long trips we were planning. The simple fact is we just cannot afford it.
Well Jack, The Obama stimulus worked so well to create jobs that I lost mine. My car has been repossessed so gas prices don't affect me much anymore.
My driving will not change–when I need to be somewhere, there is not much choice but to pay the cost of getting there. What will change is my ability to purchase. The cost of everything shipped by truck, etc., will increase and my cash will be used for necessities–everything else will remain in the store for someone else to purchase.
Well Jack, let me tell you, I am a disabled Veteran, Its not only gas prices that have gone up, so has most everything else. How has it affected me, my travel is limited to medical appointments and nescessary trips to the store.
Hope Mills, NC
Jack, I am currently unemployed and have very little cash on hand, but with a little help from my friends I can still afford enough gas to get my wife to her chemo treatments in the city. So, my answer would be not much.
I had to make a 500 mile journey this week. Rather than drive my low mile per gallon truck I rented a car, made the trip and saved over fifty dollars in gas alone after paying for the rental car.
Gerry
Arizona
Greensburg, IN. gas prices currently;
Price Station Area Thanks
3.53update Speedway
1806 N Lincoln St & E 10th St Greensburg redpony42
4 hours ago
3.53update Marathon
405 E Freeland Rd & SR-3 Greensburg afgncaap8 hours ago
3.65update BP
915 W Kathys Way & N Michigan Ave Greensburg davidharris31
9 minutes ago
Problem is: everything else will be following suit; groceries, feed supplies (farming), "China's stuff" ( which is everything else we need!)
Again I ask you, get the picture Jack!
does not effect me at all. i have been planning for this for awhile. libya is 2% of the worlds oil supply. opec has covered the lose of libyas oil. the price reflects the brokers and speculators need to make a profit on fear. i am to the point that even if a middle east leader" passes gas" thats a good reason to spread fear to boost profits. if your a republican who believes in supply side economics than you must start planning for the price of gas to be $15 a gallon in your life time . i am 60 yers old and am planning for this price. as long as this goverment doesn't invest lots of money in becoming energy self suficent this will be are new future. just remember food and most every thing goes up with energy costs. all of you "drill baby drill" suporters better do what i am going to which is sell my house for a house with a few acers of ground were i can grow food on close enough to what i will need to go and get on a bycicle!
They're not affecting me too badly - I drive a hybrid, with properly inflated tires, and don't use the gas pedal like an on/off switch at stoplights.
Well Jack, I'm just going to have to divert fluid intake. You see I re-dicovered my coffee maker/esspresso machine. If I avoid my "daily drive through" which averages $4.26 a day it will off-set my gasoline increase spending. If you take what I'm spending for 20 ounces and times that by 6 to equal 128 ounces in a gallon I'm really spending $27.20 a gallon for my fancy coffee. So I make it myself, big deal.
Oh, did I mention I won't be wasting gas waiting for line for my coffee, I wonder how much that's costing me..
not effecting my auto costs because I'm retired and don't drive that much BUT I have been seeing food prices rise for things like meat and bread and that HAS effected my "quality of life"
fuel price increases effect EVERTHING that need to be transported.either cross country or local delivery. it's THE primary cause of "cost-push" inflation.
If you don't drive a huge SUV that gets 3 miles to the gallon, you're probably only spending an extra $3 a week or so since gas prices started to spike.
Not enough to affect most people very much.
Life is slower on a bicycle.
it's bruttal – Watching the dollar wheel on the pump spin much faster then the gallons. I put 25 dollars in this morning and my gas gauge read half a-tank. Back to my Harley
Oil prices aren't effecting my life as much as my sensibilities. The price of oil is up because we are afraid something might happen! This is just the oil companies way of increasing profits.Since when is "I'm afraid of the dark " reason to take advantage of people?
When nothing happens will they give the windfalls back? Well of course they will.
Jack, After a long and futile job search I got onto Social Security and was looking forward to a small but steady amount of income that would at least cover my living expenses. I already have cut back as much as humanly possible. I drive about 40 miles a week, I don't run the heater during the winter unless absolutely needed and have the thermostat on the AC set at 84 during the day and 78 for overnight. The government is going broke and we are being asked to make sacrifices. That is all but or political and economic leadership. Over the last 4 years I and millions of other good Americans have given up more than our fair share. Isn't it time for a break for those of us that have paid that price?
Everyone forgets that an imperial gallon is bigger than a US gallon and you can drive clear across some of those countries on one tank of gas. Also, most of that high price are taxes that are actually used to fix the roads – that’s why your teeth aren't bounced out of your head on European roads as they are here.
But I’ll say this: There is a special place in Hell waiting for the bums that are causing this.
While there's little I can do about driving to work, rising fuel prices are making the cost of air travel 'sky high', as well as affecting the price of food and other goods. Can we drill now, Obama? While we cannot drill our way out of the energy crisis per se, rescinding the deep water drilling ban would send a message loud and clear that America is ready to act to stabilize our energy prices, as a matter of national security. Houston, TX
Jack,
Higher gas prices have created a situation where I can no longer afford to drive or fly anywhere; therefore, I guess I should remain in my cave. Seriously, since speculation has been allowed to affect gas prices and other major commodities I have to scrounge around for ways to pay for my groceries and other necessities, which leaves much less money available.
Joe, Binghamton, NY
Gald I'm unemployed right now and don't have to drive to work, so not much!
Illinois
Gas price?, nothing against that 222.5 Billion debt increase for Feburary, a new record. The debt will drain my tank, before I can fill it. Feberary '11 was only 28 days long!
It's not so much the rising price of gas that affects me, it's the enormous profits gas companies report and how they use events in the Middle East to justify the rising cost. It doesn't make any difference whether a barrel of oil is sold high or low we always pay double at the pump.
I'm seriously considering switching my car over to natural gas and stocking up on beans, beans and more beans.
We have no one to blame but our selves.... I heard recently that the top 2 popular vehicles sold in February were Pickups and SUV's.... Yep, gas guzzlers.... We traded in our gas guzzlers 2 years ago for 2 hybrids... America, get with the program!!
I've had the fuel efficient vehicle for a while, but I'm trying to be more efficient in when and how I drive so that I minimize trips. One can only hope gas goes up so that other forms of fuel become feasible so that we can find other solutions.
I'm driving only when I have to. Now Jack, I have a question for you.
Where can I buy a gallon of whiskey for $3.58 a gallon because I'm ready to go for a ride.
Jack ... da ja vu .. seems like you had this same question a few years back ...
How do gas prices effect my life ... no ... Gas prices have not gone up as much as my taxes have ...
Two words Jack – Motor Cycle.
My way of life in America died long ago. At 64 yr old I lived and worked in the best of times. America has change as a country , I don"t speak Spanish, I am still a member of a union, that will give me a pension and welfare . So another 700 dollars caused by speculators is nothing compaired to what Wall street stole or what the Government stole from my social security. This country will start another war soon and another Five hunred million out the window.
Whiskey cheaper than gas you say? How well does it work in the tank of a car?
We've been very spoilt thus far with AL our costs of living.
Gas prices of about $5.- per gallon are now well inthe ball park figure,and -i feel- bearable.If,and when it starts to go up to $10 we're in big trouble.
gerryat Edem.can
Hey Jack. Gas prices kept me from traveling to see a family member funeral! It is sad that the people we elected(Republicans/Democrats) to help the US prosper, are doing just the opposite! Of course they can not go against the people who contributed to their election campaigns, that would be soooo un-american!!(sarcastic)
Jack:
It will improve my life, I will get the bikes out, and trade three of my garden grown peppers for a gallon of gas.
I buy gas at Sam's club for less. I also organize my errands in order as not to waste trips. Also, I take the metro to Wash DC instead of driving.
Does it really matter how it affects our way of life? What I'd like to know is if this is speculator driven. That would have a certain positive affect on their way of life, wouldn't it? What a racket, as my Dad used to say.
Switching into neutral when going down a hill is now second nature to me.
When gas prices in Europe were mentioned to put the gas price hikes here in the USA in perspective, the average per capita miles driven in those countries should also be brought to the fore. I bring that point because most people there, I believe, take public transport to work unlike what we do here.
I dont care what europeans pay for fuel. For some Americans their commute each day is the equivalent of driving across an entire country in Europe. Of course no one complains about the cost of their fuel over there as filling up only once a month becomes an acceptable household expense.
I plan out all of my trips make the least amount of trips possible. Honestly though, I stay home. I don't go out much any more for anything because I can't afford life in these economic conditions. Everything costs money and there's no money to go around.
I think that the increasing gas prices is a good thing because American's need to start thinking about what is going to happen when the world's oil supply runs out in the next 10-20 years.
I drive a new 2010 Toyota Prius and i am averaging 53 MILES PER GALLON!!
I fill up my Prius ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS and it only takes around 32 bucks!
So when it comes to increasing gas prices, i don't even give it a second thought!!
The price of freedom of all of this world has a cost...I will gladly pay the extra $700/year for gas in order to rid this world of tyrants who hold children as hostages so that their parents will allow the tyrant to remain in charge.
It will cause me to ride my motorcycle more and also my bike.
It is having a dramatic effect in my daily schedule, instead of spending $5.00 daily in gas to get myself to and from work, i am taking the bus. An all day pass costs $2.00 a day, it just takes me longer to get there and i have to get up a little earlier but i am saving $3.00 a day. Some people have it worse than i do but it is effecting everybody.
Back in 2008 when the price of gas went over $4.00 a gallon in AZ, I gave up my car and took the bus. I lost 25 pounds and am keeping myself in shape through walking. There certainly are benefits to high gas prices.
Maybe this will jump-start the provision of public transportation. What are the states waiting for? Isn't that infrastructure?
They have made me stop smoking. Even here on Tobacco Road, a carton of cigarettes is worth nearly 15 gallons. Think of what New Yorkers could accomplish.
As a male at the age of 18, my car insurance is about 245-300 a month. With my car gas MPG is at 22. I spend a total of 500 dollars a month to drive a car. I only drive to work, my high school and maybe the beach now and then. If it goes any higher, the big yellow bus will become my new friend. As a teenager I can only make so much money to support myself without asking for my family, which I don't want to put a burden on my family.
I'm moving back into the center of the city. I can save big bucks and I'm over the surburbs.
My reaction? I bought a Prius. I now have effectively cut my fuel cost in half. I am not alone. When gas prices are $5/gallon, I will be spending about $2.50 for the same mileage. #win
Since our economy took a dive off a cliff, i've had to cut back on a lot of things. Driving is just another one to add to the list. I don't like it, but I'm used to it by now.
Two years ago when we first saw $4 gasoline I bit the bullet and put a geothermal heating system in my home. It cost 23G's, but it has already given me significant savings from my old oil heating system. Of course, prices came back down but as I figured, here we go again. As to my pick-up, it's costing me $75-$85 just to fill up; I guess the vaca will be out in the back yard this year...
I am a 36yo that returned to college and i have had to move into the college dorms due to the gas prices. I live a hour away from school and have calculated that it is cheaper to pay for student housing than to pay for gas prices to commute. It is a shame that the prices of gas has changed the way i live and where i live. I am away from my immediate family and only see them once a week and sometime everyother week. So i do not recommend anyone that is closely committed to their family that wants to return back to school to go through with it unless they are independently wealthy. There needs to be federal laws passed to regulate the oil industry and how they are influxing the gas prices.
Europe pays a lot for gas but the average pay/person is higher, also most impostant, they have an amazing transportation system. No one really needs a car. Whereas people in the U.S. are dependent on one, unfortunately. I live in Orange County, Calif., and without a car, I can't get to work or school. The public transportation system is a joke! I'm a full-time Student working full time and most of my check is spent on gas!
It's pretty clear Jack. If your way of life (e.g. work and play and home) relies upon fuel consumption, you way of life is negatively affected proportionally to the increase in the cost of fuel. Alternatively it is positively affected by the decrease in cost.
I sell products to the airline industry; so I am starting to take up collections to help them buy gas so they have some money to buy my products. Maybe GE & Pratt & Whitney could build engines that burn whiskey it it is cheaper than gas ... that way if they start to run low on fuel in flight, they could take the little bottles out of the liquor cart and fill up ...
Hi Jack,
Your not kidding,here in Montreal I filled up my tank and at $5.72 a gallon it came out to $85.00.Can't wait to come to U.S where I actually tip the sever !
Thanks
John De Santis
I'm going to dust off my bike. Problem solved.
We are rationing our food and heat just to drive ourself to work.
Quote the song "Territories" by the Legendary Prog-Rock band RUSH:
"Don't feed the people, but we feed the Machines"
First, it isn't fair to compare Europe to the US. Europe has a fantastic public transportation system–Remember the saying was "what's good for General Motors is good for the United States? Quess what? Rising gas prices will play havoc with me and our economy because the consequence will pervade every aspect of our lives. We need to become energy independent and we need a vialable, kick butt, public transportation system. Of course, that will take years to build. We're screwed! Thank you, all you short sighted politicians.
I do not care about gas prices in Europe or Greece. It's irrelevant to the US market. We have reserves that need to be tapped into in order to prevent this fragile "recovery" from collapsing. While were out spending our tax dollars saving the Middle East... perhaps we could catch a break on a fill-up to get to work this week as we keep the country moving forward.
John in Detroit
Higher gas prices hurt everyone, but the oil companies seem to flourish at our expense. Maybe we should revisit the windfall profits tax concept again. This could be used to replenish education cuts or redistributed to the states to help offset Federal reductions. Also, to insure you are comparing apples to apples, in Europe the higher gas prices include taxes that support their social programs like healthcare.
Not affecting me at all, Jack. I'm one of the 400 wage earners whose cumulative total income is larger than the total income of 155,000,000 American earners. My income's up and taxes keep going down – life is good for me! I say "fill 'em up!"
Orlando, Florida
If gas gets much higher I'll stop making payments on my home and rent a place closer to LA along with the other 70,000 commuters who bought homes 60 miles away from LA (Antelope Valley) Good luck with the housing market rebounding.
Gas price's Stops me from going to all my doctors appointments it prohibits me when I buy groceries it makes clothing and other goods out of my price range that's just me wait until G.M. and the banks start crying for bailouts again .
Been through this before. Drive less and watch the quarterly financial report showing the huge profit that the the oil companies gain when the alarm sounds. This is also the time for greedy traders to complicate matters more. There's big money to be made, no matter who it affects.
Some may see it as a big inconvenience, Jack, but for those who work for minimum wage or just a few a few dollars more per hour, it is quickly becoming a huge problem. It's soon going to be too expensive to go to work. Not all of us have a mass transit system available, or the system either doesn't open in time for us to get to work, or it closes before quitting time. That doesn't even take into account the increase in prices at the grocery stores or for other items because of the increase in transportation costs. So, the recession is over, eh?
Janice
Canton, OH
We don't leave the house without thinking about what else we can accomplish on the trip, and we save up shopping needs to do all at once. No more impulse trips!
I live in Lawrenceville, GA and our transit system does not reach some of the most populated areas here in Atlanta which are the Suburbs. I could bet you at least 65% – 70% of the people here in the Metro area would gladly give up driving their cars if our city could expand the rail and bus systems to our heavily populated suburban areas such as Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross, Smyrna and a few other cities surrounding the Atlanta Metro area. And if I might add, it will definitely cut back on the heavy traffic congestion during rush hours. There is no reason for a 20 minute drive on a regular day, to take me almost 2.5 hours when I get off of work. That comment was a little off topic, but semi still on topic because believe it or not sitting in traffic wastes gas also.
I'm already drawing less than $850 per month in Social Security disabilty and have not had a cost of living increase in 3 years now. I have cut all that I can cut. I make one trip per week to town and do all of my errands on the same day. If I have a Drs. appointment,I'll run the errands on that day. The Government needs to make a decisive move on Libya to bring prices back down and quit lying to SS recipients claiming there has been no cost of living increase.
Canada is the number "1" exporter of oil to the U.S. I paid $1.24 per litre today x 4.5 litre per U.S.gallon = $5.58 per gallon. What you guys complaining about?
I'll never forget the first time I saw the smog above Los Angeles. It baffeled me how a population could live in such filth. The combustion engine had it's time and it's time for a change. If 8 dollar a gallon gas prices helps move this along I'm for it.
Todd
Virginia Beach
In the past month our household gas bill has gone up $65. This is in addition to higher food prices, health insurance contributions, property taxes, and home heating oil just to name a few. At the same time, my husband and I have not had an increase in salary in two years. The middle class is suffering more than politicians are aware. Oh wait, we are both teachers so we deserve what we get!!
Hopefully it is forcing Americans to begin adopting a more progressive approach to work and play. Driving hundreds of miles a week in the land of Suburbia is not sustainable. Gas prices need to stay up so we restructure our country and our way of life. We all make decisions on where we live and where we work. If you want to own an over-sized house and an over-sized car, it is going to cost you.
Why isnt the government beginning to emphasize ethanol use? They want to tap into reserves to lower prices however this is only a temporary fix. It's time for greener cheaper energy like ethanol.
Jack,
Your question is likely to lead many of your listeners to began ranting about big oil companies. Consider that the profit on a gallon of gas is about three cents, but the federal government taxes it at 19%, a profit level big oil would love to have. States, some anyway tax it much higher.
Consider also that our dependency on foreign oil is self inflicted, we will not allow drilling on either coast and now we have dramatically reduced drilling in the Guld but our demand for it is only rising so what are our options? Environmentalist have halted the building of any new refineries for the past 30 years so our capacity is limited, again despite our demand increasing. We cannot build new nuclear plants to substitute our energy needs, yet we love to blame big oil.
I suppose this is in line with being a nation of victims huh? Blame everybody but ourselves.
It is a horrible that gasoline prices may hit $5.00 per gallon because some people may not be able to survive because getting to and from work may be difficult, and may loose their job. I do however understand that companies always raise their rates as long as society can permit it and absorb the pain.
I refuse to allow it to affect my life because I know that we pay far less than others do around the world. By the way, I thought that our invasion of Iraq & Afghanistan was supposed to take care of this problem but after 9 years of war, prices are way up. The poor always wind up paying for the terrible decisions of the rich and powerful.
Well, it looks like another year that will spent at home this summer and a another planned vacation cancelled. This will be the 3th straight year my wife and I had to cancel a planned vacation due to the economy. With the fuel prices going up.......everything else is going to follow – groceries, fast food, etc. It amazes me how gas prices have jumped so high, but yet all of the oil companies still report "record" profits. I feel that the so called "senators and congressmen" we have up in DC could act to do something about this, but I am sure that the companies are giving some of those "record profits" to them to keep them from doing anything to resolve the problem. Obamics....
Well I became unemployed 2 months ago so I wont be driving my truck to work. My job was 18 miles one way so that will help my gas bill some. I do have a small car that will take me to school. Gas in my area runs about 3.60 gal. I guess this layoff came at a good time. Just hope it doesn't too bad that we all have to go out and buy a horse and carriage. Best of luck to all of us.
I'm a student, and I work full time.
Due to the rising gas prices (3.69 as of today), and the fear of $5/gallon in the future, I've canceled my road trip plans for this summer, I've delayed a major planned purchase I've been saving for, and now have a planned budget for grocery shopping (incidentally, ending my occasional night out at restaurants, much less a movie or a bar). I cannot imagine how my coworkers with children are getting by day to day.
Jack I live in the nation's 4th largest city and it has to have the WORST mass transit system of any city this size. Houston is spread out all over the place yet has no trains or light rail system to get around town and the bus system here is awful. So yes high gas prices are effecting my way of life but I have little choice but to drive to go to work due to where I live.
Those of us who experienced the gas lines of the late 70s have always wondered why we weren't encouraged to get off gasoline guzzlers when we had the chance.
Recently, after owning 4 SUVs and other gas-guzzlers, I decided to buy a Toyota Prius. The argument that persuaded me was 'sending money to the terrorists in the Middle East. simply by buying gas'. I figured that it was time to take a stand and change my automotive habits.
Instead of a sacrifice, I have this delightful, economical vehicle and I couldn't care less about the price of gas. I average 46 mpg.
Why do Americans feel like they need those big guzzlers?
Mr.Cafferty,
With fuel prices climbing out of sight, again. Why can't our leaders see the need to switch to Natural Gas. I have also done quite a bit of reading on what is refered to as coal to liquid where coal is turned into diesel fuel. For each ton of coal you reap 3-5 barrells of oil. At todays prices that would mean turning a $60.00 ton of coal into $300.00 -$500.00 of oil. Also in my research I have found natural gas compaired to fuel is a 7 to 1 swap. At todays prices that would mean $4.00 of natural gas would do what we are paying $28.00 for gas. Is this tooooooo simple for the brains in Washington to see, or what?
For most of us in Arctic Canada, it'll affect hunting & fishing for food, since we only use snowmobiles to go hunt & fish kilometers away. (The price of food has become so high up here too.)
In this country, you are not granted a license to drive until you are 16 (state dependent of course). I'm assuming this is because blocking young kids from driving is good for the other drivers.
Why can we not outlaw speculation on gasoline? Whom does it help? Doesn't oil speculation harm millions of people's wallets?
I wonder how many People are aware of the fact that Henry Ford originally used hemp oil to power his vehicles? Google it. What you'll come to realize is that all the debate going on right now about our vehicles being run by "alternate energy" has always been an alternative.
Jack,
This country has more oil than it can process at it's refineries and the Oklahoma Futures Contract Settlement Facility is adding new tanks to increase their storage capacity! Look, the answer is simple... (1) Stop the speculators from artificially running up the price of commodities; especially crude oil; and (2) Stop making food into gasoline.
Yes, Europeans pay much more per gallon then we do. How far do they travel a day? They can cross their country in half a day, whereas, we do not see a problem in driving for more then an hour just to get to work. We are culturally conditioned to large distances. It will take a lot of time to reduce our travel mileage.
Not at all Jack. My car gets 51 MPG and runs just fine on 100% recycled vegetable oil. I've been using biodiesel for over 20 years and have logged 240,000 miles. Even if gas went to $20 a gallon, my car would still be cheaper then some of these monster trucks and SUVs on the road.
I'm 63 years old Jack and I see the gas lines of the 70's returning even though we have the highest stock pile of reserves we've ever had because the Oil Companies will instruct Republicans not to allow the government to dip into them because doing so will harm the 4 billion dollar quarterly profits they now share with stockholders. You see the only thing free about FREE ENTERPRISE is the first word.
Banks get bailouts, oil companies raise prices when someone in the Middle East sneezes, I run out and get a loan to buy a fuel efficient vehicle. Banks and oil companies win... again.
Temecula, CA
I run a charter boat fishing business in Belmar, NJ and I have taken deposits for over 100 trips this year. Now it looks like there's a very real possibility that it will cost me $1,000 to fuel up at the dock every other day. I either have to explain this to my customers and raise my rates after the fact, or cancel the trips altogether and return the deposits. In a nutshell, it will be impossible to turn a profit this year if gas gets anywhere the near $5 a gallon that is rumored.
-Mickey Melchiondo
Archangel Sportfishing
Belmar, NJ
Time to blame Obama! You know I'm kidding, but wasnt it Bushs' fault for rising gas prices during his term as he was in the back pockets of big Oil companies? Cant beleive no one has blamed Bush or the Republicans for this one....... yet!
This is simply the speculators running up the prices and we will see them level off.
Lets become independent and drill in our back yards. That way we dont have to worry about what happens over seas. Drill baby, drill!
Energy prices are very tough in the northeast; we need gas to travel and we heat with oil. A dollar increase in gas will cost me $120-160/month and potentially $100/month in the heating season Oct-April. This in turn will require cuts in saving or discretionary spending; in the past I'd cut down on saving but this is a new world and I'm not cutting my savings.
Gas is still cheap when compared to printer ink–LOL.
I drive from Woodland CA, to Sacramento CA. Because of higher gas prices, I try to avoid highway driving during times when traffic is busy. During rush hour in the morning or after work, I have to brake and step on the pedal alot because of the traffic. Now, I take the back roads which drives at a slower speed with little stopping. Its actually more peaceful and alot more scenic....country roads and farmland. I actually get to work earlier (no traffic jams) and save a little gas because I can put it on cruise control and not worry. I dont like the prices but it made me re-think the commute and I am in a better state of mind because of it.
I tell ya what Jack...I shouldn't be at the gas pump making life decisions. You know, like whether I ate today.
It affects my desire to vote for more Dems. Are the Oil companies still reporting record profits? Of course they are. The real hidden shortage affecting the prices includes how much more money the American oil companies want to make so they can donate more to the campaign funds for Republicans who are in their back pockets.
My guess is oil companies will log yet another banner year in 2011, probably outdoing their own profit records over the past several years. By all mean, let's reduce their taxes, and provide even bigger subsidies for these companies. Who needs "education" anyway?
Last week here the gas jumped over twenty cents overnight. What we should do is stop subsidizing oil. So prices go higher. What better time to wean ourselves off the oil teet. With higher prices we, the people, would be more motivated to do something about our addiction to oil.
Maybe all those Republican Gov. should not have turn down
the federal money for high speed rail lines.
Oh I forgot we have to balance the budget and hold hearing about Muslins.
We have been down this road so many time that it has become numbing. Most European countries are about the size of a US state, so they don't really have to cover long distances, plus, they have public transit and rail systems that are light years ahead of ours. It has already been proven that high fuel prices are caused mainly by market speculators and gouging oil companies. I don't think anybody in their right mind believes high gas prices are the result of anything except manipulative corporate scheming. High gas prices will kill any recovery our economy might ever hope to see, except for the wealthy, of course.
As a real estate agent I cover 4 counties, something I must do to stay alive. Fuel costs right now are at 3.83 a gallon and I spend $87 every other day to fill up.
The oil companies are bigger extortionists than the IRS.
The gas price doesn't affect me too much because I limit my driving. What has a bigger effect on me is every decade or so the same message comes from our leaders about alternative fuels. Then they do nothing. In my opinion America has wasted 30+ years talking about a solution.
Oh and there is no reason to subsidize companies making billions in profit.
Not much at all. I quit driving 7 years ago, so all it affects me is in higher grocery prices. I live in chicago and use the busses and the El to get around. Heck, even my groceries aer brought right to my door. I have done what the rest of the country needs to do. I gave up my depedmdance on foreign oil. Morons!
Jack;
I'm torn in two parts: I'm happy that the gas prices could resolve the energy problem in finally ending this county's 4X4 fleet; but my four cylinder Camry only gets 33 MPG.
I do believe we are spoiled in this country. You see it in our over stuffed freeways everyday. Big 4X4 trucks, SUVs and all with only the driver. No one wants to carpool. Our job offers free parking to all employees who participate in carpooling and only about 10% of them even bother. We are very spoiled but we will start thinking very different once this fuel hits $5 a gallon and over. It's the only way to fight back. The day will come when our freeway system will be full of mopeds.
We DO NOT live in EUROPE OR GREECE!!!!!! We live in America, a once great country that is on a seriously bad path toward a downward spiral. Our gas would not be this high if oil was not allowed to be speculated on. Take Wall St speculators out of the equation and then see where gas prices would be. Enough with Wall St fat cats getting rich off of the middle and lower classes!
What a joke. I bet there is no supply problem at all. We have to believe that there is, so they can jack us for the cost.
Jack,
The rising gas cost, and the trickle down effects to every other thing we buy out of necessity is putting the hurt on all us working class dogs.
I commute 60 miles each way to work. It kills me that we can follow all of this back to the mortgage crisis created by big banks, mortgage companies and lenders that took huge bailouts and still refuse to make loans to save people from foreclosure. The falling values of homes has so reduced the tax revenues that the big banks just keep on hitting us again and again. Now we can thank the greedy oil companies for once again taking advantage of any situation to steal more of our hard earned dollars. Never mind that it may severely impact the near future of new jobs being created or reap havoc on wall street.
They intend to make us all into poor beggars. Somebody needs to put a stop to this...
At $4 a gallon in a 25 mpg car that is 16 cents a mile. Has anyone tried to walk 25 miles...it's worth paying $4 dollars. Anyone ever carry groceries a couple miles? It's worth 32 cents for a couple miles. And why is it worth it at 15 cents but outrages at 16 cents? If you don't think it's worth it then stop buying it. Either that or really, really please shut up about it.
It makes me more and more angry at the subsidies given to the gas industry from we, the tax payer.
You failed to mention that most of the 7-$8.00 people pay in
Europe for gas is taxes. Their cost before taxes is about $4.00 a
gallon.
I drive 70 miles round trip to and from work every day in an SUV. It's not out of desire to make this drive – it's because I went where the job was, and I have yet to find something closer to home. Selling the house certainly isn't an option at this point in time. Buying a new vehicle also isn't possible – this one is paid for and I definitely can't afford another payment. I feel like my husband and I are stuck between a rock and a hard place in this economy and now with gas prices on the rise, it's a wonder that we ever leave the house when not going to work. What's crazy is that only 10 years ago, our current salaries would have made living pretty comfortable. I'd like someone to invent a car that runs on trash.
It's altering the budgets I set
Jack: No gas for vactions, no gas for kids games, no gas for going accross town to grang ma's house, and no gas for one or two trips for food every 2 weeks. Do less spend less on gas. Key words: Electric cars
I have driven a Toyota Prius for several years now and haven't looked back. I feel sad for those that try to justify driving a gas hog. We so want to look at the economic justification for NOT buying a hybrid (or all electric vehicle) without considering the long term environmental impact. Hopefully when gas really gets expensive more people will come around.
PS We just installed a tankless water heater. Folks give green a try. Trust me it won't hurt.
question. day one that some unbelievably easy to predict crisis happens in the middle east, oil prices rise, followed by the gas prices rising. it takes months to make gas out of oil. should it not take months for the gas prices to rise? another question. On the flip-side gas stations get deliveries typically once every few days and the gas prices at that same station manage to change daily? i say force the gas stations to raise the price when their price rises. that way it would not be so obvious someone is taking advantage of a situation. i can remember within a month after 9/11 people started to sell everything that had a flag on it. i do not remember that there were any bailouts needed for the oil companies. i think there is a reason.
The price of fuel is hurting not only this country, but the world. The 6 major oil cos hold the world hostage. The oil cos can do as they please with the help of the federal government. They should be thoroughly investigated and broken up to have more competition. OR the big oil cos should be REGULATED for all they are concerned about is MONEY, GREED FOR MONEY not the human being
Gas here on Maui is now at $4.27/gallon for regular. Time to start shopping for a bicycle, beofre the price of those goes up too!!
I think the $700 more per year is bunk. If I fill up one more time per week, that would be closer to $3500 per year! I think we should go back to the OPEC scare of the '70's. Take the speed limit down to 55-65 mph!
When the price of everything that's delivered by trucks reflects increasing fuel prices, I'll be effected even more. I can somewhat control my trips, but I can't control the price of a loaf of bread, or a slice of bologna.