Gas prices!
 

Who would have thought I'd find 2.97 a gallon for super unleaded to be cheap? Just got back from CA where we paid 3.57 - 3.89 a gallon!

In Belgium it's 6,50 p.g. Lucky you.Paul

Come to Massachusetts! Yesterday I paid $2.88.

Kind of a far drive to MA from AZ!

I saw someone pay over $12/gal for bottled water today!

Who'd ever think back in the 70's that people would pay more for water than beer in an area where municipal water is clean and tasty!

Here in the UK, we're paying £0.98 pence per litre: 4.544 litres to the gallon...so, can I come live in America, please? Seriously, I'll be in California again in October and as usual, I'll regard whatever you're paying for gasoline as pure luxury.

Mary

I have heard that said more than once Mary - that the US historically has had lower gas prices than rest of the world....we may finally be catching up.

$2.62 a gallon in western Michigan. C'mon over everyone!

Here in Hong Kong, it is just under US$7 a gallon. But they do pump it for you (no self service here) and clean your windshield and check your oil....

$2.82 today at Costco in the Santa Clara Valley of the SF bay area.

believe it or not, 2.46 in Cincinnati

Actually, MJLR, there are 3.78 liters per US gallon, so it isn't quite as bad as it sounds -- but still pretty bad.

And yes, the US has a very long way to go in raising gas prices to catch up with most of the rest of the world, including Europe.

I've been telling people here for 25 years that gas is a bargain at under $5 per, but nobody ever listened.
What's more funny is I don't see a mass stampede of people trading in their gas hogs for smaller, high-mileage cars, they just keep complaining about $3 a gallon gas.

Quite right Neapolitan. I was thinking in imperial gallons. Thanks for that.

Mary

I agree microdol - the writing has been on the wall for sometime, people have just chosen to ignore it. As a country, we have structured our lives around cheap gas and now we are literally paying the price for that shortsightedness.

I drive a small car with good gas mileage. I can't go any smaller with my vehicle!

I wonder if gas is really all that cheaper here than in Europe or elsewhere. I imagine someone has done a study on driving habits and gas prices who could answer that question. Now, certainly it is lower in currency, but the U.S. is a big place. I drive 80 miles a day just to get to work and back. Luckily, the traffic isn't too bad, and I have a fairly small car. I think it would be wonderful if we had more public transportation like Europe, but sometimes I wonder if it would always be practical. I was thrilled to see gas drop to $2.61 at my station this week.

microdol -- you are sooo right on. i just spent one month selling cars, for the first time, at a hyundai dealership in order to learn about this nameplate. absolutely no one is looking for less powerful car engines with good mileage. everyone wanted to buy the high mileage car-platform suv vehicles. i was so shocked that most people do not care!

when americans feel the pain over gas prices, it's due to a collective 'hiding head in sand' syndrome. something like, 'oh, that won't affect me."

orangetravelcat: Where were you in CA?? The prices have come down a bit in the last week - but even at the highest I never paid over $3.10. Your timing was rotten - $2.81-$2.91 is the norm depending on the brand.

I lived in the UK for several years - and I have never once complained about gas prices here at home. But at least there I had options. But smaller standard transmission cars make even $6 or $7 bearable.

I heard on the radio this morning that gas prices will be decreasing and that we could see prices nearer to $2.00 than $3.00 per gal. by Thanksgiving.

I wonder if all the media drones will do "Do you feel happy about this increased available spending money?" then. I certainly doubt it.