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US drivers fume as gas prices soar (BBC)
BBC ^ | 04/09/2005

Posted on 04/09/2005 9:23:32 AM PDT by traumer

There are increasing signs that US motorists are changing their driving habits in the face of record prices at the fuel pumps.

While the US love affair with the motor car is far from over, consumer dismay has greeted the latest predictions that the average price of petrol will hit $2.35-a-gallon during the peak summer driving season.

That is cheap fuel by European standards, but represents a substantial spike in the US, where motorists were paying some 40 cents less last summer. Sales of gas-hungry sport utility vehicles and pick-ups are stalling, while drivers are taking drastic steps to cut down on expenses.

Brad Proctor, founder of Gaspricewatch.com reports a surge in price spotters for the site, which records prices at 128,000 gas stations to help consumers. "We are a nation that drives a lot. When prices go up by 25 cents in 30 days, it hits business and consumers hard."

'Changes in driving'

The price spike is fuelled by the rising cost of crude oil, which makes up about half the cost of retail petrol in the US.

I am a cabbie who does 120 miles a day - I'm not taking long fares as I lose out on the return trip - Daryl Smith

"Taxi firms and pizza deliveries are now charging surcharges to cover gas costs," said Proctor. "We are seeing changes in the way people are driving, what cars they are using. Families are leaving the big, gas-guzzling SUV at home and taking their second car for short trips."

Jay McIntosh, director of retail and consumer products at Ernst & Young, said "lower income earners" were most vulnerable. "In the longer term I think we'll see some inflationary pricing at retail on many imported items like clothing and household goods," he told the BBC.

AT THE PUMPS Highest gas price in the US is $2.99 per gallon, in San Francisco, California Lowest is $1.96 in Evanston, Wyoming UK drivers pay equivalent of $6.10 per gallon Source: Gaspricewatch.com

A majority of Americans say gas prices are causing financial hardship, according to a recent CNN/USA Today poll of 1,040 adults.

Fifteen percent of respondents said the price of gas was causing them "serious hardship" jeopardising their standard of living, while 43% described "moderate hardship".

Forty-eight percent said gas prices had caused them to cut back on their driving.

But demand grows

Despite high prices, demand is expected to continue to rise due in part to the increasing number of drivers and vehicles on the roads. The US Energy Information Administration says demand this summer will rise 1.8% from last summer, helping push pump prices to a peak average of $2.35 a gallon in May.

Lynn Franco, head of consumer research at The Conference Board, warned: "If we have several months of significantly higher prices then that is when we could see a marked impact in terms of consumer confidence."

For those on tight margins, the solution is to drive less.

Washington DC cabbie Daryl Smith said: "I'm not taking long fares as I lose out on the return trip. "In fact, I'm not cruising for fares now - I'm parking in the good spots."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gasprices
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To: lilylangtree

--you can send all the messages you want to the oil companies and it won't drill a single well or build one refinery. Believe me, the oil companies already know what it costs---and who is standing in the way---


61 posted on 04/09/2005 10:20:17 AM PDT by rellimpank (urban dwellers don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm)
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To: BullDog108
a loss-leader to get folks into the store and profit from the gasoline sales!

!!! ROFL!!!!!

Around here the price of milk is the same at the mini mart as it is in the supermarket. Heck beer is cheaper than milk in some stores!!!

62 posted on 04/09/2005 10:21:14 AM PDT by Gabz (John Paul II, pray for us.)
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To: rellimpank

But we also need to send a coordinated message also to members of the Congress who are supported by the oil companies.


63 posted on 04/09/2005 10:21:44 AM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: traumer
""Washington DC cabbie Daryl Smith said: "I'm not taking long fares as I lose out on the return trip. "In fact, I'm not cruising for fares now - I'm parking in the good spots." ""

Ok, now I know this guy is writing this from his desk and made this quote up... I have never met a cabbie in DC that has a last name of Smith, I have never been able to pronounce a single cabbies name yet in that city.
64 posted on 04/09/2005 10:23:52 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly catching hell for not reading the whole article since 1999)
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To: buddyholly
1) cancel your gym membership 2) alternate with your spouse (or neighbor)
65 posted on 04/09/2005 10:27:46 AM PDT by traumer
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To: spanalot
Or better yet, drive a car that's cheap on gas like my 1998 Honda Civic HX CVT coupé that gets 33-36 miles per US gallon depending on where I drive.
66 posted on 04/09/2005 10:34:38 AM PDT by RayChuang88
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To: MisterRepublican

that's probably because most people don't put 70L of coffee into their car each week

plus demand for coffee is more elastic... you can get by without coffee


67 posted on 04/09/2005 10:39:05 AM PDT by music is math
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To: Chef Dajuan

"I agree, environmentalists and NIBYists are TRAITORS who should be shipped off to Git'mo."

Cool! I'm going to build a refinery right next door to you and use absolutely no polution control technology on the thing. And if you make even a peep that could be construed as NIMBY-ist, then it's off to Gitmo. And don't even ask for any compensation for reducing the value of your land to zilch (actually less than zilch since you'll still owe taxes on it).

I think you fail to realize that the sane environmental laws in this country (and yes, some of them are sane) are designed to protect property owners from damage to their property. Or should we just trash all property rights?


68 posted on 04/09/2005 10:41:57 AM PDT by New Orleans Slim
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To: Chef Dajuan

"No, but during WWII American industries were TOLD what to do and WHO they could sell to. This is a national emergency and we're at war."

Really? I would think a Congressional declaration of war would have made the news.

"Its any American companies PATRIOTIC DUTY to sell to their fellow citizens at a discount."

Corporations and their officers don't have patriotic duties, they have fiduciary duties to shareholders. Unless the USA suddenly turned into the USSR ...

"To hell with the world. This is what happens when we sign crap like GATT, NAFTA, FTAA, and we get in to the WTO."

Oh, you ARE anti-capitalist!


69 posted on 04/09/2005 10:49:01 AM PDT by New Orleans Slim
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To: Chef Dajuan

It didn't blow up.

It caught fire.

So does gasoline.


70 posted on 04/09/2005 10:50:34 AM PDT by Crazieman (UESR: Union of European Socialist Republics)
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To: Crazieman

You might consider writing your elected representatives and urging passage of the energy bill, if you think it could help.


71 posted on 04/09/2005 10:56:03 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961
Don't paint ALL of us with the same brush! Many of us believe a balanced, responsible utilization of all energy resources IS possible, but have little opportunity in the current (and previous) political climate to advance that agenda

Enviromentalists DO hold this nation hostage on many fronts. Perhaps the current rise in fuel prices will serve as a wake-up call and provide the leverage needed to initiate many of the programs(nuclear, more drilling, etc etc) the rest of us advocate.

Breaking eggs to make omellets come to mind...

72 posted on 04/09/2005 11:02:05 AM PDT by GoldCountryRedneck (The Flogging Will Continue Until Morale Improves)
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To: chuckwalla
and the dumbest oversight:

Nobody needs to buy coffee regularly 20 gallons at a time...

73 posted on 04/09/2005 11:16:31 AM PDT by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are ignorance, stupidity and hydrogen)
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To: traumer; All
Several years ago I could drive from the Keys to Pensacola/Orange Bch Ala. from there to Savannah and back to the Keys for about $100-$125. Over the past four days I spent almost $300. on fuel and got home with less than half a tank and the same trip.

In my business you don't pass on your increased costs.my competitors by from the Chicoms and are already selling my products(similar anyway) at 20 cents on the dollar. So high gas costs becomes yet one more obstacle to overcome.
74 posted on 04/09/2005 11:19:27 AM PDT by rodguy911 (rodguy911:First Let's get rid of the UN and the ACLU,..toss in CAIR as well.)
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To: MisterRepublican

I can't believe anyone would pay $5 for a cup of coffee.


75 posted on 04/09/2005 11:19:38 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: JeffersonRepublic.com

"1/4 mile: 17.2 sec"

That snail shouldn't be allowed on any road!


76 posted on 04/09/2005 11:20:55 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: Gabz

"my weekly milk bill is nearly double the weekly gasoline bill."

You must use all your gas in a weed eater!

My weekly gas bill is now about $120 and I only drink 3 gallons of milk a week!


77 posted on 04/09/2005 11:25:27 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: KevinDavis
I hate to admit it but you are right. We should have stood firm every time the enviro-wackos wanted to kill another energy source. Look where we are now. At the mercy of arab terrorists! Great place to be. We need nuclear back and quick.

The problem with "where we are" energy wise is that there are few "quick" solutions everything takes time.
78 posted on 04/09/2005 11:29:40 AM PDT by rodguy911 (rodguy911:First Let's get rid of the UN and the ACLU,..toss in CAIR as well.)
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To: New Orleans Slim

"Cool! I'm going to build a refinery right next door to you and use absolutely no polution control technology on the thing."

Please do!!!!!

The only problem is you will have to kill every eniro in California first.

I welcome both options!


79 posted on 04/09/2005 11:32:16 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: JeffersonRepublic.com

Red Tape.


80 posted on 04/09/2005 11:43:49 AM PDT by US_MilitaryRules (My tag line was censored.)
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