It seems like every time you roll by the gas pump, it's gone up another two or three cents or more per gallon. And it's not likely to start dropping anytime soon. In fact, one local economist says get ready for four dollars a gallon.
Prices have already topped 3.60 a gallon in most places - and within the next few weeks could be around four bucks. Brock School of Business professor Dr. Stefan Norrbin says there is little or no relief in sight. "The demand is so high worldwide right now that there isn't really anything, any ceiling that we can see," he says.
In fact, he says Americans are just now starting to feel the same pain at the pump Europeans have been dealing with for years. "Unfortunately we've had cheap gas since 1986 basically. Now we're starting to pay the piper in a sense," says the Samford University economist.
But what are these ever increasing prices doing to most of us now? Some like David Garza says yes it hurts to fill up, but it's big price hikes on other things that are hurting worse. "Quite frankly what's hurting me more is my sewer bill. And what hurts me is the price of a gallon of milk has doubled. It's really food prices that are hurting," he laments.
Others like Susanna Whitsett say they're already cutting out vacations. And the one's her family are taking will be shorter. "Well it's been a factor. It hasn't been *THE* reason that we've rearranged plans. But it's definitely been a factor," she says.
