Travel dilemma: High gas prices leaving consumers stranded

[marmar]

from the Pasadena Star-News:



Travel dilemma
High gas prices leaving consumers stranded

Erick Galindo, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/25/2011 09:26:14 PM PDT


More and more Southern Californians are canceling vacations, spending less and even running out of gas by the side of the road.

"Higher gas prices may be contributing to more people running out of gas because they are trying to stretch each tank further than normal," said Steve Mazor, the manager of the Automotive Research Center at the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Gas prices rose for the 34th straight day Monday to $3.86 per gallon nationally and $4.23 in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, a trend that has ripple effects beyond the gas tank and into the economic recovery. For consumers, more expensive energy siphons away money that would otherwise be used for things like cars, furniture, clothing and vacations, said James Hamilton, an economics professor at UC San Diego.

And unlike other kinds of consumer spending, gasoline purchases provide less benefit for the U.S. economy. About half that revenue flows to oil-exporting countries, though U.S. oil companies and gasoline retailers also benefit. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_17925442

[Mnemosyne]

1. I got my drivers license in 1974, and never in my life have I had to pull into a gas station with my

fuel light on, as often as I have to these days. Never.

Never, ever, had bill collectors calling; it happens almost daily now, for emergency medical bills, nothing else.