Higher gas prices- what next?

The proverbial pinch isn't only felt at the pump. Higher fuel prices have an immediate effect on most everything we touch. People eat out less, take less trips and more carefully plan their grocery shopping list. Thirsty SUV's find their way to the bargain lot while four cylinder cars and motorcycles suddenly increase in value. All the aforementioned is typically what happens when gas prices go up. After all, we've been through it before- so what makes this time any different?

If we're lucky, this time won't be any different. Quite possibly we'll see prices drift downward sometime after Labor Day.

However, unrest in the Middle East is the undisputed cause of the rise in oil prices and the situation seems to get worse by the minute. Many ask since there are problems in Libya, and Libya primarily supplies oil to Britain, then why does is affect our prices? First, the prices are being affected worldwide, not just here. And since oil is Libya's only tangible product, it would seem quite silly for them to blow up their own oil wells, making things even worse. We'll see.

As of this morning, Casey's stores in Butler were advertising the cheap stuff at $3.49 a gallon while Phillips 66 was at $3.54, according to GasBuddy.com.

So how bad do we have it? In Los Angeles today's prices range between $3.93 and $4.09. New York is a little better at around $3.80/gal. Thanks to heavy taxation, gasoline in Britain is over $7.00 a gallon. Australia $6.40 today on average. Comparatively, we don't have it so bad- but that doesn't help much.

So what does the future hold? Prices will probably be up for awhile, at least until things quiet down across the pond. You know, while we're cooling our heels, we could be drilling...

Oh well, as Americans, we'll get by no matter what. Just like we always have done.