Gas prices may push us to slow down

www.thedailyjournal.com Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Ten dollars of gas doesn't go as far as it once did.

That isn't the longing of a veteran driver for the good old days. Anyone who has been driving since last year would have noticed the slow uptick of prices since the start of 2003. The increase, about 22 cents per gallon for unleaded gas nationwide, has been occurring slowly but steadily.

Until now, drivers have had the threat of war, terrorist attacks and blizzards to worry about, and they haven't been complaining too much. But the price increases are discouraging and worrisome. Higher gas and heating oil prices fuel inflation, which won't help an already weak economy get back on track. And with gas prices rising as fast as they are now -- the price is hovering around $1.50 per gallon locally -- drivers are starting to wonder how high they will go if, or when, we attack Iraq.

The main reasons for the increase -- a protracted refinery strike in Venezuela, a major U.S. supplier of petroleum, and tensions about the looming war -- have been cited many times in recent weeks.

But some observers are suggesting that refiners and retailers are once again using these reasons to justify overly large price increases. We hope not. To do so when America is preparing for war would be opportunistic at best and unpatriotic at worst. If some of them are, government officials and consumer groups should crack down on the gougers.

Meanwhile, consumers should find ways to trim their gas expenses. One less ride to Wawa during the day; one less weekly trip to the mall; and how about driving a little slower? All will help reduce your gas bill.

For example, every increment of 5 miles per hour above 60 mph adds 10 cents to your per-gallon cost of gasoline. So keep the pedal off the metal, and you'll see a savings that's worth slowing down for.