SURVEY SAYS: Are Gas Prices Driving Changes in Your Behavior?

June 21, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Let's face it - no matter how much people try to rationalize it, gas prices appear to have lost connection with sanity, if not reality.

But even if you stop and try to make some accounting for the impact of inflation, or the fact that it’s still cheaper than milk in most places, the fact remains that it costs a lot more now than it did a year ago.  

This week, I asked readers how the rising price of gasoline was affecting their driving.

Nearly half ( 49.2% ) said they were driving the same, but liking it less.   On the other hand, 28.7% were actually driving less, and 13.2% said they had been “driven” to seek alternative forms of transportation.   Only about 2.3% said they were driving more (and liking it a LOT less), while nearly 18% opted for “other.”

Other, in this case, truly lives up to its name.   Among the alternatives cited were owning a hybrid, going a different route, combining trips, car-pooling, and moving closer to work.   Oh – and lots of folks responded that they don’t live in areas with public transportation options!   But the bottom line is, about as many people said they were doing something different as weren’t.   Here’s a sampling.

“I practice law and plan administration. We discovered that going to an outside office wasn’t necessary. Our office is in our home. Our clients prefer telephone calls and e-mails to holding meetings. Accordingly, the price of gas is not a significant cost for us. More professionals should try this.”

“Actually, timing is everything. I happened to get a new job just four miles from my home.”

“My wife and I carpool now, whereas she used to drive the minivan to work. Not only does this save on gas and maintenance, but we can vent about our respective days using R-rated language. Nothing but hugs and smiles for the kids when we get home!”

“Paying for gasoline is something that is going to happen in my life. There is no public transportation where I live, so I have very limited choices about how I transport myself. I will just continue to resent each additional cent I pay for gasoline.”

“I’ve used public transportation subsidized by my employer (they also subsidize a parking option for those so inclined) to get to and from work for the last 12 years so that we may be a “one-car-family” (my wife is a stay-at-home mom). Every time the gas prices increase, I’m more and more thankful that opportunity is available to me.”

“We are a small office that does not have lunch facilities nearby, so we all try to go out to lunch together in one vehicle. Unfortunately, I am the one who drives each day.”

“I commute 300 miles per week for my job; luckily, work takes up so much of my time I don’t have a social life so it keeps my mileage down :)”

“Now I plan my route prior to leaving the house so I don’t have to use any more gas than I have to….I used to enjoy the ‘scenic’ routes, but not as long as the gas prices stay as high as they currently are.”

“I figured out how to work at home.”

“I have been commuting to work via the bus. I knew I had come full circle when I looked out the window and saw the high school bus next to me. I thought, some things never change!”

But this week’s Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who noted, “This is nuts.”  

Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!

 1.I am staying at work during lunch more & looking for ways to avoid additional car trips that I would have normally not given a second thought.
 2.So far I have been spare the wraith of the soaring gas prices in part due to changing jobs about a year ago. I vist the gas station about two times a month, but still spend almost $45 each time even though my car only has a 2.0L engine. I spend $128 Bart tickets each month (think underground train). Can't say the same for the fiance...she spends close to $300 am on gas and complains every month after seeing the credit card bill for gas but when can you say. She needs to drive to get to work
 3.I ride my bicycle to work some days and am now walking to lunch eateries, but can't really say saving a few bucks is the only main driver - I think our focus on gas prices is causing a stronger willingness to look at the impact of our driving on the environment and our need to be less dependent on other nations' fuel -- not a bad thing IMO.
 4.I have a 75 mile round trip commute, with no available public transportation. I would take it if it were there, but until then I have no choice but to drive. Because everything else is so expensive, I can't get rid of my car that gets about 20 mpg, but even higher mileage wouldn't take the pain out of the prices.
 5.My husband and I (very middle class) are trying to figure out how to buy a smaller vehicle. I would like to work from home more often. We are also spending more time at home, not going anywhere -- ergo, floating fewer dollars into the economy.
 6.Fortunately, I drive a hybrid and that makes it less painful.
 7.The day prices hit $3.59, I decided to ride the bus. Unfortunately, my city apparently does not want me to ride the bus, since the nearest stop is 1.1 miles away, and alternate stops (1.25 and 1.75 miles, respectively) required me to walk down roads with no sidewalks or pedestrian crossings.
 8.My husband has parked his vehicle indefinitely and has taken to a varying combinations of public transportation, bicycling and walking. I've arranged with my employer to work a few days a week at a satellite office closer to my home to cut down my commuting. We have also been more mindful of combining our errands to cut down on trips. Of course, routine maintenance on the car is always crucial to maximizing fuel efficiency - keep your tires properly inflated, people!
 9.I use about 4 gallons of gas a week, so the cost of gas doesn't impact me much.
 10.Although only partially due to gas prices, we have moved closer to work so my commute is 18 miles rather than 42. An added bonus is that a coworker is just a couple of miles away and we try to travel together once or twice a week, just to hear that extra jingle in our pockets.
 11.Although only partially due to gas prices, we have moved closer to work so my commute is 18 miles rather than 42. An added bonus is that a coworker is just a couple of miles away and we try to travel together once or twice a week, just to hear that extra jingle in our pockets.
 12.Now I plan my route prior to leaving the house so don't have to use any more gas than I have to....I used to enjoy the 'scenic' routes, but not as long as the gas prices stay as high as they currently are.
 13.My wife and I carpool now, whereas she used to drive the minivan to work. Not only does this save on gas and maintanence, but we can vent about our respective days using R-rated language. Nothing but hugs and smiles for the kids when we get home!
 14.I cannot drive less than to work, school, church, and back. Our area is completely devoid of public transportation. I have cut out all vacations and car pool children daily.
 15.My fiance and I carpool into work together every morning now. The only thing that really sucks is when there is one of those unexpected meetings that runs late near the end of the day.
 16.I combine trips wherever possible -- I'm trying to adopt "market day" thinking.
 17.I figured out how to work at home
 18.I try to consolidate trips. My wife has a company car (with company paid gas) and she drives more now.
 19.I have to use my car to get around since public transportation is not an option for me. We do have bus service in my city but it doesn't service a lot of routes and doesn't run at all hours. I've done what I can to alter my driving (planning several trips into one, finding shorter routes, going out less) but being without my car is not an option.
 20.We avoid gas guzzlers like SUV's and mega vans like Suburbans and Expeditions in favor of coupes and small wagons that get 20-30 miles per gallon.
 21.I am horrified at how much it costs me to fill up my car. Having said that, I feel the same way I did after 9/11 - that "terrorists" or any kind were not going to dictate how I live my life. I have not altered how much I drive because I am being "held hostage" by the oil industry.
 22.Paying for gasoline is something that is going to happen in my life. There is no public transportation where I live, so I have very limited choices about how I transport myself. I will just continue to resent each additional cent I pay for gasoline.
 23.I think about it before making a weekend trip. This affects my quality of life and "clips my wings", the one thing that helps to keep me sane and my life in some sort of balance. I would gladly take public transportation if it made sense but it's often unreliable, more expensive than driving and usually just plain unavailable for where I want to go.
 24.I drive over 40 miles each way and the price of gas has put a serious dent in my pocket. Mass transportation has been considered, but it isn't available. I would look for work closer to home, but the market can't afford me.
 25.If there were other viable alternatives I wouldn't mind them. Because I may need to go to other locations without notice I don't have any other option than driving. I don't mind that the cost of gas is encouraging people to buy smaller vehicles. I drive a mid-sized car and would love it if fewer SUVs were blocking my view.
 26.I've used public transportation subsidized by my employer (they also subsidize a parking option for those so inclined) to get to and from work for the last 12 years so that we may be a "one-car-family" (my wife is a stay-at-home mom). Every time the gas prices increase I'm more and more thankful that opportunity is available to me. I'm thankful for all the money I've saved by being able to do this and not owning a second car - much of it has gone into my 401(k) plan!
 27.Living and working urban rather than suburban has made a huge difference for my spouse and I. An already strong and still improving transit system in our metro area has allowed us to rely on only one vehicle, cutting the expense of fuel as well as car payments and insurance. Toss in some creativity, flexibility (and sometimes patience) and it really works. We both feel more socially and environmentally responsible.
 28.I take a bus to work almost every day now, and my husband uses my car. We've been saving for a Prius since they came out, so we hope to get one by the end of this year.
 29.It is ridiculous when you get excited about paying $2.82 a gallon because it is $.37 a gallon cheaper than it was 2 weeks before. Oh how I long for the days of $.99 a gallon.
 30.My only action in response to the gas prices has been to grumble when we have to fill up our vehicles. However, we have decided to purchase a hybrid vehicle the next time we buy a car.
 31.I got a new car with all kinds of new features like navigation, back-up camera, bluetooth connection, etc. So I'm loving it all, even though my gas mileage is actually lower than in my old car! Of course, I only drive about 10,000 miles per year, so ... Price of gas? Who cares!
 32.It pains me to think that the sources of our fuel are the most violent, least responsible places on Earth!
 33.I have calculated that I will easily save $1,500.00+ with the change in my commute. I went from 24 miles round trip a day to 8 miles round trip. Where I was having to fill my gas tank up every week, I am now going three weeks between fill ups!
 34.I have to say the prices have not changed my driving patterns at all. In fact I don't think to many people have changed due to the cost. My wife and I have seen more RV's on the road this year when we go camping than we have in the last two years. I think most have just dealt with the increase.
 35.We need an alternate form of transportation in my home city. You have no other choice but to drive.
 36.I sold my car and now take the train or bus everywhere. It's better for the environment and I save tons of money that I was spending on gas, insurance, parking, inspections, etc.
 37.Trips we might otherwise make are second-guessed and now either combined or delayed. I guess that's a good thing, forcing us to conserve more. When we bought a car last year, there was no consideration for an "gas hog". These changes probably don't have much of an impact, but every little bit helps on the pocketbook.
 38.I now use public transportation.
 39.Considering the purchase of a smaller car with minimum highway gas milage of 35 mpg.
 40.I cant afford to drive anymore--and I don't even own a gas guzzling SUV.
 41.I don't have a choice about the majority of my driving. I have to do it and can't really carpool or use another method.
 42.With my wife and I both working and kids involved in a number of actives it is difficult to reduce the amount of driving we do. However, we have become more concentious of our habits (such as leaving the vehicles idling or driving with the air on when we could have the windows open) and other things that can improve our gas mileage. Likewise, since one vehicle gets better gas mileage than the other (about 8-10 mpg more) we try to use that vehicle more often when we can.
 43.I now plan where I am going. Without reimbursement from my company, I find planning helps keep my expenses down!
 44.We are a small office that does not have lunch facilities nearby so we all try to go out to lunch together in one vehicle. Unfortunately, I am the one who drives each day.
 45.I am definitely looking for opportunities to carpool and cut down on trips
 46.I recently stopped buying organic milk. After seeing a Cornucopia Institute report on how much of the organic milk in supermarkets is produced in factory farm-like conditions, and considering it's almost $8 a gallon, I decided, why bother? The growth hormones don't seem to have affected me negatively yet. --Karl Sakas
 47.Driving less and more efficiently. For example, I run errands that are on my driving route on the commute home more frequently than I used to.
 48.My next car will be a Prius. I've also experimented with some of the less extreme practices of "hypermiling", the act of maximizing MPG through specific driving techniques. It does work.
 49.I've always been sensitive to the effects of my travel. I drive higher fuel efficiency cars, try to "cluster" errands and, in general, recognize that driving is a polluting activity. Growing up in the 60s and actively participating in the first Earth Days has forever changed my perspective of my place in the universe.
 50.I have been commuting to work via the bus. I know I have come full circle when I looked out the window and saw the highschool bus next to me. I thought some things never change! 🙂
 51.I drive the same in going to and from work but make less frequent trips to movies, the mall, etc.
 52.I try to drive more prudently; combining trips, planning the route or considering traffic.
 53.Drive the small car a lot more and park the mini-van during the weekends. Saves on gas since the car gets much better gas milage. Also, been bike commuting some. Great way to save money on gas while getting a workout in at the same time!
 54.I have downsized from a SUV that would get 12-13 mpg (if I was lucky) to a MV (mini van) that gets between 18-20 mpg. I still have not gotten over the fact that because of rising gas prices I was forced to give up my SUV and join the "Soccer Mom" club. I can't admit I drive a "Mini Van" so I tell people I downsized to a MV, it sounds better.
 55.Actually, I unloaded my VW Passat last year and bought a used 2004 Ford Expedition. I needed something to haul stuff for all of my home improvement projects. I can now carry home a sheet of drywall or plywood without a problem. I didn't buy the Expedition for its fuel economy, but I have changed my driving habits. I now go into the office no more than 2 days a week, ususally just one day a week. I used to go in 3 days a week. I have found that I am spending less on gas than I would have with my Passat, partly because the Passat required premium gas, which is usually 20 cents a gallon more. I find I get about 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway with the beast, which isn't bad. My Passat got 26 MPG on the highway and 20 - 22 in the city. So I do drive less, but I don't mind it at all, and I would probably drive less if gas were $1 cheaper than it is now. It would have to get below $2 before I'd drive more "for the heck of it." Besides, there's hardly anyone left who actually goes into the office any more, and I am enjoying working from home.
 56.Having gone through the gas lines (even/odd) in the early 70's, I think this is something we need to have. Hopefully people will begin thinking, planning and using less gas -- we don't have an unlimited, forever supply!
 57.My kids are involved in summer sports programs. Since we live in a rural are this means driving to get them to and from events. With the higher cost of gas there is no more stopping for a treat after the game like my parents did for me when I was my childrens age and played summer sports.
 58.Higher prices haven't changed the number of miles that I drive, but I am paying more attention to keeping the cars in "shape" to help gas mileage (e.g., proper tire inflation, keeping engine tuned, etc.) and using the air conditioner less often.
 59.Am considering driving less by biking to work albeit there are a few roads not bike friendly in getting there.
 60.I commute 300 miles per week for my job, luckily work takes up so much of my time I don't have a social life so it keeps my milage down 🙂

I have read a lot of the press and opinion that seems to support the increase in gas prices as a reflection of the 'true cost' of energy consumption.   Some near-sighted writers have even gone so far as to say they were happy about the spike in gas prices because it will force lazy, gas-guzzling, consumerist Americans into using mass transit and living closer to city centers.

This opinion is voiced and shared primarily by people from large metropolitan areas. Good for them, but what about those of us who live in rural America, those of us who support and/or are involved with the backbone of our agricultural output?   For the most part these people live on the margins already, driving old beaters and otherwise barely making ends meet.   For the wealthy and the culturally elite, perhaps such logic makes perfect sense. But for those who are already poor…well, we all know what the poor do. Get poorer. The increase in gas prices is a significant financial burden for those already living close to the edge.

Car pool, they say, or take public transportation.   Well, in order to find better paying jobs, most of us drive to the nearest city center. There are no bus stops, no trains, and often little or limited opportunities for car-pooling. If these editorialists have it their way, America's struggling small-town culture will simply die on the vine.   

The real answer lies in:

•        ongoing and future production of more fuel efficient vehicles,

•        better oversight of oil company pricing policies (ExxonMobil Corp., BP, and ConocoPhillips all reported double digit and record increases in profits for the last couple of years. Really?),

•         and, here is the best one, further research and development into cleaner burning, renewable fuel source such as corn or switch-grass based ethanol and soy biodiesel.   I am particularly fond of this one because of its ability to revitalize and grow the withering culture of good old-fashion small-town living.)

There is my two cents - or $25 - worth.


I am (a) driving less.   Last year when gas prices went up, my husband and I both began focusing on reducing the number of trips we make.   We combine errands rather than making individual trips.   This has helped reduce our usage a good bit.

Last year, I also tried to find someone who wanted to carpool with me to work, but was unable to do so.   This year I actually sent out a corporate-wide e-mail offering to match up associates wanting to carpool.   We only had 7 associates respond (out of about 1200), but I found a partner!   I do plan to continue encouraging other associates to carpool, but it looks like most folks here are not quite ready for that yet.


(b) - driving the same, but I'm a person who walks and bikes more than I drive, and always have.    Conservation, exercise, and the preservation of resources are important to me.


(e) Other.   I'm trying to drive less. I'm not sure I'm very successful. I feel like a car scrooge, not wanting to drive anywhere unless I have to. I also spend too much time agonizing over trying to time buying gas at the week's best price.   We're only talking pennies, my logical brain tells me. But every time I buy gas, I think my blood pressure rises. It can't be good for us to be so stressed over it. Maybe we can sue the gas companies for emotional distress.


 1.and planning my destinations to accomplish several things in one trip with the shortest amount of driving total.
 2.try to buy a smaller vehicle. Want to work from home more often.
 3.More carpooling to work
 4.Switched to a more fuel efficient vehicle (a pickup to a Prius)
 5.Buying fuel efficient cars.
 6.No change. I've been expecting this for a long time.
 7.Drive the same but... (see below)
 8.Driving the same
 9.I practice law and plan administration. We discovered that going to an outside office wasn't necessary. Our office is in our home. Our clients prefer telephone calls and emails to holding meetings. Accordingly, the price of gas is not a significant cost for us. More professionals should try this.
 10.Combining more stops in one trip rather than several trips
 11.Being more concsious of planning local trips to combine tasks and destinations and make a more "efficient" trip.
 12.Choosing other forms of alternative transportation.
 13.Driving the same With one car a hybrid And the other a diesel I'm staying ahead of the game
 14.Taking the bus, although those prices have gone up, too! $3.25 one way, up $1 each way. I still figure it's cheaper than gas, not to mention the environmental benefits.
 15.Make what would have been several trips to one place or store to one trip to several places or stores.
 16.driving the same and liking it more!
 17.I was taking the bus already. The park and ride is 2 miles from my house. I can't really even tell you what gas costs when I put it in! I have no idea why I see so many people driving downtown. Maybe so they can put on make up or check their blackberry while changing freeways ???
 18.Actually, timing is everything. I happened to get a new job just 4 miles from my home.
 19.carpooling
 20.Traded in the SUV for a hybrid. Now we love driving past all those gas stations with the high prices!
 21.I drive my motorcycle a lot more!!!
 22.I have slowed my Interstate driving speed from 70 down to 60. This is aving me 13% on gas and costing me about 7 minutes extra a day traveling.
 23.No change.
 1.this is just nuts!
 2.Trying to fill up before a price increase is really a challenge. It increases $.25 to $.30 at a time, but then drops by a penny or two in the next few days. How frustrating!
 3.We all know about greenhouse gases and global warming, but my hope is that the increase in fuel prices will be the catalyst to get people to start looking at alternatives to the traditional gasoline powered vehicles. I also hope I'm not the only green, tree hugger in our industry.
 4.This push for ethanol is not a good solution since it is increasing food prices. Only in the US would we take corn from the bellies of people to put it in the bellies of cars.
 5.Another one of the things that make you go "HHMMMM"
 6.It's insane. I stopped at a gas station this weekend where the price for regular was $3.09, and for one second I was congratulating myself on finding cheap gas. Then the ridiculousness of it all struck me. I remember when $5 filled up a tank of gas!
 7.George W. Bush is from Texas and guess what...oil is Texas's best commodity. Oil prices will never drop while George Bush is in office. George Bush = bad for America.
 8.We can't have it all. No new refineries have been built in the last what, 20-30 years and there are more vehicles on the road now. The mandate for ethanol will only make it harder to expect the oil companies to invest their profits in expanding to meet the need for more traditional fuel products.
 9.1. I'd like to know why the oil companies, with all their resources, cannot figure out how to build a refinery that can be converted into another type of energy provider, thus putting to an end their "if we build the refineries now, they'll be obsolete when the new fuels catch on" whine. I say "tough". Use your trillions of dollars to build a couple of refineries now, and dig in on the alternative fuel field. We may never get to the point at which we don't need ANY oil or gas (at least not very soon), but even if that happens, they'll find a tax loophole to bail them out of any possible losses on the refineries. And, if they can figure out how to incorporate the new fuels' production into the refineries, they won't even need to be bailed out -- not that I wouldn't LOVE to see them take a loss on them. In fact, "bailed out" is a ridiculous expression. They have so much in accumulated profits that they would probably not feel a "loss" until over 25% of the refineries had to close.
 10.I have read a lot of the press and opinion that seems to support the increase in gas prices as a reflection of the 'true cost' of energy consumption. Some near-sighted writers have even gone so far as to say they were happy about the spike in gas prices because it will force lazy, gas-guzzling, consumerist Americans into using mass transit and living closer to city centers. This opinion is voiced and shared primarily by people from large metropolitan areas. Good for them, but what about those of us who live in rural America, those of us who support and/or are involved with the backbone of our agricultural output? For the most part these people live on the margins already, driving old beaters and otherwise barely making ends meet. For the wealthy and the culturally elite, perhaps such logic makes perfect sense. But for those who are already poor…well, we all know what the poor do. Get poorer. The increase in gas prices is a significant financial burden for those already living close to the edge. Car pool, they say, or take public transportation. Well, in order to find better paying jobs, most of us drive to the nearest city center. There are no bus stops, no trains, and often little or limited opportunities for car-pooling. If these editorialists have it their way, America's struggling small-town culture will simply die on the vine. The real answer lies in: • ongoing and future production of more fuel efficient vehicles, • better oversight of oil company pricing policies (ExxonMobil Corp., BP, and ConocoPhillips all reported double digit and record increases in profits for the last couple of years. Really?), • and, here is the best one, further research and development into cleaner burning, renewable fuel source such as corn or switch-grass based ethanol and soy biodiesel. I am particularly fond of this one because of its ability to revitalize and grow the withering culture of good old-fashion small-town living.) There is my two cents - or $25 - worth.
 11.Isn't it amazing how much prices drop when consumers start mentioning windfall taxes? And how we get blamed for increased usage, when usage is up something like 1.4%, but prices are up 40% or more?
 12.I have NO sympathy for people who drive gas-hogging SUV's, Hummers, etc. If you drive a vehicle that gets gas mileage like that, you DESERVE to pay more for gas. Where is the breaking point for the public at large that will finally make low gas-mileage cars unacceptable? We're obviously not there yet. Meanwhile, the oil company fat cats are basking in record profits!
 13.I truly believe that our gas prices are as much media driven as anything else at this point. The evening news says gas prices are going up and the next day, every station in town has increased their price by a dime. You can't tell me that the economics of fuel has anything to do with supply and demand...
 14.I truly believe that our gas prices are as much media driven as anything else at this point. The evening news says gas prices are going up and the next day, every station in town has increased their price by a dime. You can't tell me that the economics of fuel has anything to do with supply and demand...
 15.I don't mind the gas prices. It appears to motivate the automotive industry (fuel-efficiency) and government (cleaner, alternative forms of energy). Hopefully China will figure it out too.
 16.It would be easier to understand until one listens to the oil companies ever increasing profits. Would it not be easier is these companies instead of raising price for future fuel cost share the burden and reduce their profit percentage.
 17.Im speachless.
 18.Folks would waste a lot less gas if they would slow down, avoid jackrabbit starts and slamming on the brakes at red lights. My car tells me how my driving style affects my fuel consumption so I've changed my habits to increase fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, it drives the people behind me crazy. Sorry folks -- I'm not out to get you!
 19.I'd like to know how come the prices can go up based upon prices based on speculation. Also, when I worked in retail, we had to take a count for all price increases we made and turn it in. Do they just get to raise/lower prices at whim? Aren't there government regulations on prices of gas like there are on other products?
 20.Lack of refining capacity and oil company profits are to blame. Make the oil companies fix the problem!
 21.Fuel prices are way out of line with the cost of oil. I understand supply and demand very well but I also understand corporate greed and the pressure to please the stockholders. Something has to give.
 22.I am very happy about price increases. I drive relatively fuel efficient cars and wagons. The good news is that when prices are the same as Europe, oversized, non-commercial vehicles will disappear. It will force us to learn to depend less on oil, it will remove SUV's from the road and parking lots and it will make annoying, bullying, little dictatorships like Venezuela fall into twilight. Until Americans show some restraint and stop buying these huge gas guzzlers, the gas companies will assume cost is no object and their profits will continue to spiral.
 23.Anyone who is surprised by the increase in energy prices hasn't been paying attention. There have been many books, magazine articles, new stories, all focused on the same thing: The world has been consuming just about all of the available supply for a few years now. In classic economic terms, that means that the next unit of energy is priced at the margin - meaning it's priced to pay the producer the full cost of producing that last unit. Basically, there's no slack in the energy supply any more - prices are headed higher, not lower. When supply = demand, with no prospects for more supply but lots of prospects for more demand, the price is going up. Better get used to it.
 24.See above!
 25.Right or wrong - I don't pay attention to prices (and my husband is not happy about it) I couldn't tell you the price of a gallon of gas or milk - I would never make it on the Price is Right!
 26.I wish I could use the creative accounting that is used to establish gasoline prices when I determine the value of my services (I'm sure my services will be much more costly in the future so I had better start charging more for them now). As long as I am the only "fuel" available, that should work.
 27.I find this issue so frustrating. There just seems to be so much self-dealing and areas that cause distrust. There are so many places to point fingers from the auto industry and fuel economy, to consumers' choices of gas guzzling vehicles where a very large vehicle may really not be necessary to their lifestyle, to cartels, wars, terrorism, hurricane preparedness, the failure of public transportation in this country, airline inadequacies and on and on. I'm exhausted just thinking about it and I thought healthcare was complex! I wonder how we are going to come to grips with any of these issues and then when we get done with that (I am still hopeful nonetheless), we can talk about privatization of our public road systems - won't that be fun!
 28.Considering in 1991 I could get gas for $1 per gallon and now it's almost $3 seems similar to the housing price increase which has helped a lot of people. (I am not one of them unfortunately.) Until gas is something like $6 a gallon I will continue to drive to work and play. After that, I will work from home or sleep at my desk.
 29.When we pay more dearly for something, we tend to be more conscious of how we use it. I'm not sure that we're being "gouged" at the pumps, however, it seems like a lot of the situations the oil companies refer to that are causing the prices to be high may possibly be fabricated.
 30.Gas prices should be regulated by the government and be subject to few changes throughout the year - much like the changes in the Fed Funds rate. I think that most Americans wouldn't be as frustrated with the high price of gas if it didn't change everyday.
 31.Very glad to not be in the agricultural or transportation industry...my sympathies to those dealing with outlandish fuel prices as part of their business as well as lifestyle.
 32.There used to be laws about price gouging - what happened to them? It used to be illegal to advertise prices falsely - what happened to that? There are numerous gas stations that leave an artifically low price for Regular on the sign and then when you drive up to the pump, they are conveniently out of that grade of gasoline but will be happy to sell you higher grades that are even higher priced that those at other stations. Chevron is now changing to new signs that don't even tell you what the 2 higher grades cost so they can charge whatever they want - much more than the customary additional 10 cents per grade. And please people, a one day gas-buying moratorium is sillier than believing anything a politician says. Put yourselves out a little and permanently drive 3 blocks out of your way to frequent the more responsible stations.
 33.I find it sad that many of us don't really look into alternative and better fuels until it impacts our wallets.
 34.The oil companies are the ultimate price gougers and unfortunately it is the local clerk or station owner that gets to hear all griping when their profit margins have not really changed.
 35.When I have to start buying milk 15 gallons at a time every week, then I'll start worrying that it is more expensive than gasoline.
 36.I am much more concerned about the price of other associated energy sources, i.e., heating oil, electricity. They comprise a much larger part of my budget than gasoline.
 37.Very interesting to note that the only time gas prices have decreased over the last 12 - 18 months, is around the time of the election. Amazing that more people haven't noticed the connection. Remind me again, what industry did most of the administration officials work in before they gained entry to the White House?
 38.With an exception of the market- I don't even pay attention. I fill my tank once every 3 weeks maybe. Again- can't understand why everyone isn't using public transportation if/where it is available.
 39.Where are the efficient diesels that are so popular in Europe?
 40.I am guessing the heads of the gas company's have no idea what it cost them to fill up their own gas tanks. I'm thinking they probably do not "self-serve" their cars and therefore feel no pain on their gain!
 41.We need alternate modes of transportation which I believe will cause a decrease in the use of gasoline for private vehicles. Tax the gas companies and their CEOs, that's where the money is going!
 42.I hope they go to $10.00 or more per gallon. It's time we got weaned off our dependence for oil as our primary energy source. However, I am sure the politicos (as well as many of your readers) will look for someone to blame rather than deal with the real problem. Just like healthcare, where our focus is on those who don't have health "insurance" or the cost of services, when the real problem is the declining health of our citizens through our own poor health habits, we'll blame foreign interests, oil companies, or Bush for our energy problems, while we drive our Hummers. We can't seem to take to heart the wise words of counsel from Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us".
 43.Gas prices will go up and people are still going to put $20-$40 in their tanks. The oil companies don't care because all the increases are profits. Gas might hit $4.00 by August and cars will still line up at the pump. So what if a single barrell of oil costs $80. I wonder how many people actually know what one barrell of crude oil translates into when thinking gas prices?
 44.Why are the oil companies making record breaking profits and yet the price of gas keeping rising? When my Father owned a gas station in the 1960's, the price only changed when he got a load of gas. Now days, the price changes every couple of hours!
 45.One of our VPs owns a large GMC Yukon SUV. She recently purchased a Toyota Prius as a second vehicle. I gave her a little grief about rising gas prices causing her buy a smaller vehicle in a vain attempt to "raise her average" mpg.
 46.Yes, it's still cheaper than milk but we use a heck of a lot more of it! It's about twice as expensive now as it was two years ago. If any other products without political ties had that type of increase, the government would definitely do something. It's kind of funny how oil companies say that have to raise prices but are recording their highest profits ever. If I were smart, I'd buy some Exxon stock to get some of my money back!
 47.I just have one question: Why am I paying $3 per gallon when the oil companies are reflecting record quarterly profits and not operating at full capacity? (I consider myself pretty good at math and this just does not add up!)
 48.Why? Why? Why? With gas prices in our area averaging $2.89/gallon, I hear people say it's "cheap". I believe that's the type of conditioning we are going through with the gas companies. A year ago, we thought $2.39 was "cheap". Now it's $0.50 more per gallon, and people are excited to find it under $3.00!! It's price conditioning!! The profits the oil companies have reaped are higher than ever, and the only answers we get are blamed on the consumers - we won't let them build any more refineries because we don't want them in our backyard - yadda, yadda, yadda. Somehow, the oil companies find a way to blame the consumers - amazing. It's like the person who won't join the 401(k) because their brother can get a better return on something else. Then, upon retirement or termination, it's the company's fault that they don't have a 401(k). Always point the finger elsewhere!
 49.I am surprised that it took this long for fuel prices to rise. Our automakers are way behind on efficiency. It is past time for them to catch up.
 50.The prices bother me a lot less than do the profits of the energy companies. With the number of low gas mileage vehicles, our unwillingness to conserve energy in many aspects of our life such as carpooling and the seemingly low motivation in finding alternative fuels, maybe higher gas prices aren't all bad if they will motivate some social changes.
 51.No one likes the high prices, but the fact is that the gas producers can charge whatever the market will bear. If we don't want to pay high prices for gas, we will have to lower demand. The only way to do that is to change our own habits and make the oil companies choke on their excess supply.
 52.Why did NJ Transit raise train and bus fares 10 percent? I'm glad I take mass transit every day, but the increase just punishes those who already commute more efficiently. Tax the drivers!
 53.I have been green for awhile (financially and environmentally). While the increase of course affects me, it doesn't affect me to the same degree as many others. I have always driven a small fuel efficient sedan and taken public transportation when and where possible. It doesn't cost me the equivalent of a week's pay to fill up the tank as it does many others that somehow feel its necessary to drive a large gas guzzler.
 54.I think gas prices need to top $4.50/gal before the American Consumers will demand improved and alternative technologies. In the short run, the high prices really hurt...in the long run, every consumer has an opportunity to do something about it. Maybe we should stop being so short sighted and start making those "long-run" decisions sooner rather than later.
 55.Fuel prices are merely reflecting the market forces at work. Americans believe it's their God-given right to drive gas-guzzling monstrosities and to fuel them with the lowest price gas in the world. No one wants a new refinery in their backyard, meaning that capacity continues to lag behind demand, driving prices up. The government has abdicated their responsibilities by refusing to hold car manufacturers accountable for fleet fuel efficiency improvements or through adequate funding of mass transit initiatives or alternative energy development. And with more of the world increasing their appetites for oil, prices will remain high unless we find ways to get more efficiency out of a limited resource or find a viable, non-polluting alternative.
 56.At least the President's oil friends are happy!!
 57.Of course I have something to say about the fuel prices but it is best that I don't.
 58.Their fickle. I love how the gas conglomerates raise prices before a big travel holiday. Can someone explain to me how they can do that legally?????
 59.Fuel prices are very unrealistic against any formula that you could come up with in my opinion. The only reason prices are so high is that the Bush administration has screwed up so badly that we are going to be hit with high prices in just about everything for some time to come. To say that I will be glad when that joke of a president is out of office would be a great understatement although whoever gets into office will have a lot to clean up which is going to take more than 3 terms, I'd think.
 60.I still think fondly of the time I got gas for $0.74/gal in 2000 while stumbling upon a pair of stations engaged in a price competition! Didn't really need much, but I had to fill up at that price.
 61.It's crazy! It's hard to understand that supply-demand economics when all of the oil companies report these huge profits. Makes you wonder...
 62.Does it make sense to buy the high octane? When you pull up to the pump, there's only one hose and 3 different buttons for octane. How do you know you're really getting the high octane gas and not just paying an even higher price for the already high priced "Cheap" gas?
 63.Although gas is expensive relative to what it cost a year ago, when you think about all that the oil companies have to do to make gas, it's really a bargain. They had to find it...not always easy...they have to get it out of the ground...again, not always easy...actually NEVER easy...they have to get it to a refinery...they have to process it...then they have to ship it to a distribution center...and then put it on a truck and take it to my gas station. And this doesn't even take into account all of the environmental crap they have to deaal with. If it weren't for the EPA-mandated (thank you Sierra Club!) summer blends, gas prices wouldn't jump every year in May. Do you hear the news media talk about that? Nope! and what about the fact that we haven't had a new refinery built in the US in over 20 years....that would certainly help to bring the price down. And for those who think we're running out of oil, think again. The Canadian oil sand flats (or whatever they're called) in Calgary have enough oil to power this continent for the next 100 years...and that's a conservative estimate! Build me a car that runs on enviromentalists, and then I'll switch fuels. My Expedition will run OVER them...but they don't fit into the tank!
 64.Why is it when speculation arises that gas prices will rise to $3.50 per gallon it happens via 35 cent increase overnight but when speculation arises that gas prices will fall to $2.75 they decrease by only two cents per day?
 65. *&!@#&*%#$!!!
 66.To a great extent, we can again thank the Environmentalists for limit the industry's ability to maintain sufficient refining capacity. More refineries would help meet demand, by increasing supply of refined oil, and by decreasing the transportation costs of refined fuels by having new refineries located in areas where there are none now.
 67.You guys should feel lucky as here in the UK gas is 8 dollars a gallon!
 68.Ridiculous. I can't believe we can send satellites and space shuttles into outer space, but haven't made more progress towards alternative fuels or cars.
 69.I recall paying 25 cents a gallon for gas in the 60's and, while filling up, I could buy a bottle of "soda pop" from a machine at the service station for a nickel. Now I spend $3 a gallon for gas and then can go across the street and pay $4 for a Venti Café' Mocha or I can drive to an outdoor concert and spend what amounts to $8 a gallon for bottled water. All things considered gas is a bargain today, particularly from a relative standpoint - at least that's what I keep telling myself when I spend $85 to fill up my SUV.

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