Considering all of the press that has been inked (or typed) regarding both John McCain's and Barrack Obama's various plans for the ailing automotive industry in America, you may think that the two hopeful presidential candidates would be in tune with the plight of the average driver who fills his or her tank. Or not. It seems that Republican John McCain is not aware of how much a gallon of gas costs. In fact, he says, "I don't recall, and frankly, I don't see how it matters." We have no intention of pushing any sort of political agenda, and this writer in particular is not attempting to back either politician with this writing, but the question begs to be asked: how in the world could somebody living in the United States not know how much gas costs today? Every time the news is turned on or the internet is fired up, citizens are bombarded with constant reminders that gas has crested the $4 a gallon mark. It must take a really busy man to be completely unaware of the price of gasoline these days.

Update: McCain apparently knew the price of gas when he gave a speech on June 18. See here.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Photo by Cyfer13. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Before gas prices began soaring skyward, it had often been suggested that an artificial increase to the price of gas could have the effect of forcing consumers to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles and could keep people from making frivolous trips. It's now safe to say those projections were likely true. Now that fuel prices are what they are, more people are choosing hybrids and other fuel efficient models, and some are even choosing two wheels over four. Additionally, Jeff Rubin, chief economist at CIBC World Markets, projects that $7.00 per gallon of gas could potentially remove ten-million vehicles from roadways in the United States alone. What's more, Rubin predicts that by 2012, the average miles driven will drop by as much as fifteen-percent.

Interestingly, Rubin compares U.S. driving habits with those of individuals living in Britain. Statistics show that ninety-percent of American drivers commute every day to work in an automobile, while only sixty-percent of British workers do the same. Fuel prices in America, though rising, have yet to match those that many European countries have seen for years.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Here in the United States, consumers who fill up their fuel tanks are just now beginning to see the type of pain that Europeans have seen at the pump for years. Reactions to the recent rises in gasoline and diesel fuel are pretty much what you would expect, with new car purchasers eschewing gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient models left and right. Even manufacturers have gotten into the game, offering low cost fuel for up to three years in Chrysler's case, or giving gasoline away for free for a few months, as Suzuki has done.

These same manufacturers, though, are not planning on such tactics in Europe, where the trend has been towards smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles for a long time now. Only Kia is considering fuel incentives at all, according to Auto Express. Even here in the states, the cheap gas ploy has seen decidedly underwhelming response, so we don't expect to see many manufacturers opt for this type of incentive much in the future. Just building more fuel efficient cars in the first place seems to make much sense, wouldn't you say?

[Source: Auto Express]

We hear about rising fuel prices all the time and with the Northern Hemisphere Summer on its way, they're sure to rise further. But how much of an impact is fuel having on your hip pocket?

Vote now.

What portion of your weekly income do you spend on fuel?
	I don't use petroleum fuels at all - viva la revolución!
	Someone else pays so I don't really care.
	My butler fills up the car but frankly it's the av-gas that kills you.
	Fuel comes way down the list after computer games so I guess I'm doing ok.
	I've noticed the price rise but it isn't hurting too bad yet.
	That shiny new hybrid on the lot is starting to look really good.
	If fuel goes up any more it will be time to re-mortgage the house.
	I can't afford fuel these days so I walk everywhere now.
Free polls from Pollhost.com