Gas costs forcing drivers to cut back - Boston Globe

[Eugene]

Source: Boston Globe

Gas costs forcing drivers to cut back
Fuel consumption has declined in US

By Robert Gavin
Globe Staff / February 24, 2008

Gasoline prices have risen so high and stayed high for so long,
that Americans are finally doing what once seemed unthinkable:
driving less.

Inveterate drivers are carpooling, combining errands to eliminate
trips, trying mass transit, and even walking. As a result, gasoline
consumption, which grew steadily in recent years as prices
passed $2, $2.50, and $3 a gallon, has flattened and even
declined, according to the US Energy Department.

Average daily gasoline consumption in the United States has
decreased in each of the past four weeks from a year ago,
according to recent data. In the past six months, average daily
consumption slipped two-tenths of a percent from a year earlier,
after growing 2.5 percent in the previous year.

-snip-

"If a price spike is believed to be temporary, people won't make
these type of changes," Knittel said. "It's the sustained price
levels that are convincing consumers to make long-run decisions
that reduce demand."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2008/02/24/gas_costs_forcing_drivers_to_cut_back

[pbca]

1. The U.S. is still enjoying

some of the lowest Gas prices in the world. Here, if you do the conversions, Gas is pushing $5 / gallon (and Canada is an oil exporter)

[demosincebirth]

2. Yes, but we have to drive more.

I drive 80 miles a day and not able to take public transit. Not many Europeans drive that much to commute.

[pbca]

7. I know alot of people who drive that here n/t

[demosincebirth]

16. Where is "here" ?

Not in Europe, for sure.

[OKIsItJustMe]

18. (Judging by the flag)

I'd say "here" is Canada.

(Call me crazy.)

[OKIsItJustMe]

12. Call me dubious

I don't believe there are any laws peculiar to the US that require citizens to commute long distances.

Why can't you:

• Find a job closer to your home?
• Find a home closer to your job?
• Find a new job and home which are closer to each other?
• Join a "car pool?"

[demosincebirth]

15. Get real.

[OKIsItJustMe]

17. I am real

I and each of my siblings have at one time or another commuted 30 or 40 miles for a short time. None of us did it for long. That was by choice.

[Skittles]

we do not have the social safety nets other countries do

when we get gouged at the pumps we just get gouged

[pbca]

8. Yes and sadly it was Clinton who

got rid of the safety net in the US

[Skittles]

9. ?

I blame repukes more than I blame Clinton

[pbca]

10. It was Clinton who passed it all

The Repukes voted for it, but "Workfare" was a Clinton thing

[OKIsItJustMe]

14. He certainly was glad to take credit for it

http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/new/html/Tue_Dec_19_115023_2000.html

[Deja Q]

5. Your taxes help pay for your health care. You can enjoy that.

[pbca]

11. Yes, but

It's hard to have sympathy - we have universal health care (which no US candidate is even proposing) because we support it and pay through the nose for it. We also produce alot of oil and gas and pay more for it than the US does. The fact that we have health care does not offset it for most Canadians.

High oil and gas prices (which are going to keep going higher) were inevitable - everyone (including people in the US) has known this was coming for 30 years, but did nothing to prepare for it.

[OKIsItJustMe]

13. We should be so lucky!

I have good health insurance; but I'd gladly pay higher taxes to see universal coverage.

http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2000/en/pr2000-44.html

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ASSESSES THE WORLD'S HEALTH SYSTEMS

The World Health Organization has carried out the first ever analysis of the world’s health systems. Using five performance indicators to measure health systems in 191 member states, it finds that France provides the best overall health care followed among major countries by Italy, Spain, Oman, Austria and Japan.

The findings are published today, 21 June, in The World Health Report 2000 – Health systems: Improving performance.

The U. S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health services, ranks 18th . Several small countries – San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second-placed Italy.

...

[Oleladylib]

3. must be a slow news day in Boston...this has been happening for a while.

[lligrd]

4. Between Gas And Food Prices

I have noticed a huge reduction in my "free spending" account. I'm surprised more aren't complaining yet.

[dweller]

6. and reducing our driving will just give the oil-Cons

the reason to raise the price more. They are going to get their $$ regardless of what we do.
It's already happened, i read here on DU that January was the first time mileage/driving was down among consumers, yet the prices have still risen. I've also read here on DU that there is a surplus of gasoline so it's not going up in price due to shortage. It's because they can.

Until Congress steps in and taxes those record profits the oil-Cons are raking in, nothing will change, but the price (going up).

dp