[Tin Knocker]

I saw $4.25 today in Chapaqua NY......

Made $4.05 at the corner look good.

[Lincolnian]

Great, now all the effort can go toward pushing diesel up to $5.00 to make regular at $4.00 seem like a bargain.

It is hard to argue that gas at $4.00 per gallon isn't having an impact on people's finances. That coupled with heating oil at $4.00 accounts for a large portion of most people's income. You certainly can cut back but you can't eliminate it.

According to 2005 Federal Highway statistics the average American drives 12,578.8 miles per year. At an average of 23.7 mpg that amounts to 530.75 gallons. At $4.00 per gallon that is $2123 per year. That is about 10% of the upper limit of the bottom 20% of all income earners' annual income. Average annual heating oil consumption is another 730 gallons. That's another $2920 per year. Combine that with two people heading up a household and driving that is a total of $7166 or 14.6% of the median household income of $49,207. Approx 15% just for fuel and heating oil. These are costs that impact household budgets that are only marginally adjustable for most people. Factor in rising food, health care, education, and taxes and there's not much room to maneuver.

This is a serious issue that should be getting more attention because it affects our ability to function in the world marketplace. 80% of Americans have household median incomes below $80,000. Only about 6 to 7% are above $150,000. These high prices not only affect the bottom income earners but they realistically affect 80% of us. Even those in the $80,000 to $150,000 notice uncomfortable hits to their disposable income.

I don't have facts to back this up but it is not inconceivable to imagine that the phantom inflationary pressures since 9/11, particularly those related to food and energy, have been the real tipping point factors that duped many homeowners who borrowed to the limit (not a wise move) and suddenly found themselves with less money to meet their other obligations.

[wanderintonc]

I tried to buy a bi-fuel car today and got it snatched out from under me (by a couple hours) by someone from UTAH-where those cars are a hot commodity. Their CNG is 63 cents a gallon and they're buying bi-fuels by the truckload to sell there...and I'm out of luck!

[JViello]

Natural Gas is a HUGE resource the US has - one of the world's largest actually. But we will not use it either...more of those "evil" fossil fuels.

Same as ethanol, most vehicles can easily be converted to run on CNG.

Perhaps $5.00 a gallon will slap some reality into people and we will stop trying to run our cars "Mr Fusion" (Mr. Fusion - Back to the Future Wiki) when it's simply not reality now or in the near future.

[skytrekker]

$4 Is easily the norm for now $129 a barrel today - $4.25 the next step. Anyone who has bought a large SUV/Truck for more then 30K a year or 2 ago- its worth half--- so goes life in the fast lane.

[JViello]

No "fast lane" here. Just reality. I'll never give up my full size, long bed, extended cab, 4wd truck. Ever. I need it, I use it, I like it. Gas prices be damned. Thankfully we are still a free nation where I can own the vehicle of my choice.

I average 17mpg in my truck. My wife averages 22 in her 06 Sonata. She's a somewhat led foot, I drive normal.

My motorcycle more than makes up for any extra I may spend anyway.