Tuesday, September 23, 2008

What Are Projected Gas Prices For the Future

By Adrian Fletcher


Will gas prices ever go down? That is the question that is on the mind of just about every car owner but also many business owners too. It might come down a bit but the chances of it returning to the levels of around a year ago are unlikely. Everyone is feeling the pinch, especially individuals who rely on their cars to commute to work but havent the extra cash to spend on a larger gasoline bill.

Reduced demand for gasoline will need to come from greater fuel efficiency, reduced driving mileage, and the development and deployment of new types of fuel. Supply will then come into balance with demand, keeping gas prices at a stable, if relatively high, level.

Despite a reduction in demand, one factor that will keep gas prices from going down is the cost of refining the gas to burn as cleanly as possible to meet ever-stringent emission standards set by law. Refineries will need updates, more research and development studies, more training of personal in new refining methods will all be among the list of excuses oil companies will offer for why the price of gas is so high.

So will the government act to regulate the gas price? In some countries they have tried this but it has proved difficult to implement given the varied political agendas at stake and the vast amount of taxes that are applied to gasoline use. So while the prices of everything in the United States skyrockets due to the cost of fuel it is up to the people to make the difference to answer the question will gas prices ever go down.

In an effort to save, people will spend less money on other things and travel less, causing further damage to our economy. People will buy cheaper, less nutritious food to save money, leading to higher health care expenses. More planning will need to be done for day-to-day activities, to reduce the amount of gasoline that people consume.

The way to act is to voice your opinion. Don't moan to your neighbor or coworker but talk to your elected officials. Write them, call them, email them, after all, your taxes pay their salary so they are on your payroll. Unfortunately big oil companies may hold great sway with our elected leaders, but many voices raised as one can initiate the changes needed.

Will gas prices ever go down to manageable levels for most people? It seems unlikely, certainly in the near future given the outlook for the economy. A small decrease will be negligible i at all, but if you add your voice to the increasingly large group of people seeking change, it is possible that our national leaders may listen and take meaningful action to stop run-away gas prices.

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