It was so kind of the media to provide us with sage words from a Federal Reserve Bank President recently:

"The spike has put gasoline prices -- as well as prices for other energy commodities like electricity or natural gas -- at ground zero in the battle to keep the U.S. economy out of recession. Indeed, Federal Reserve officials have pinpointed energy prices as a possible impediment to a quick recovery for the sluggish U.S. economy.

Regarding gasoline prices, Alfred Broaddus, the President of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, said higher pump prices are a ``very visible'' indicator of the economy for consumers, and can put a damper on already declining levels of consumer confidence."

My poll questions are these:

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve?

6. What did you last pay for gas?

-- Guy Daley (guydaley@altavista.com), May 05, 2001

Answers

I'll lead off.

1. Cheap gas has been a basic American commodity since we first start manufacturing it. I think $2.00 is a pyschological barrier that will really make it sting when we're first forced to pay for it at that price. I think the average consumer will begin to resent there SUVs and start to wonder, "what was I thinking when I bought this behemoth". Personally I'm pissed off because it costs me a double sawbuck ($20.00) to fill up my tank now (13 gallons). Yes, its going to make people think, how the hell can businesses operate with gas this high? 2. Undoubtedly - all price increases will result in higher prices. Very few businesses will absorb this cost. 3. I think a lot of motorhomes will be parked this summer or they'll be taking intrastate trips instead of interstate. It would be cheaper to just stay at a hotel. The extended stay hotels are consistently around $175 for a seven day week. That's what it would cost to park your motor home, excluding the gas to get there. 4. I can't cut back anymore. I drive sparingly as it is. 5. Already have two Geo Metros, can't conserve anymore except to buy a Honda Insight and I don't have a spare $20,000. 6. $1.59 and its not even Memorial Day yet!!

-- Guy Daley (guydaley1@netzero.net), May 05, 2001.

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?

Yes, As prices rise Consumption will decrease.

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?

Yes, Increased Energy costs will be passed through to the consumer And with the increase in M2 (some say very expansionary) there will be more cash available.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?

Yes, It is already over $2/gal here in silicon valley (even the cheep stuff)

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?

Yes, I have cut down on many trips and started telecommuting.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve? When it gets to $2.50 I will start looking for more gas efficent transportation.

6. What did you last pay for gas? In Silicon Valley I paid 2.07 for the low grade fuel.

HeliumAvid

-- Helium (HeliumAvid@yahoo.com), May 05, 2001.

My poll questions are these:

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence? YES! Gasoline prices will cause a rise in the cost of all most all goods and products, and consumer confidence will be affected.

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation? How can it not cause inflation? The cost of everything in the store, lumber, food, and everything else will rise to reflect the increase in gasoline and transportation costs.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon? Some will, some won't.

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon? Yes, we will cut back, make fewer trips. We have a VW, so we get pretty good gas mileage anyway.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve? We consider conservation at the current price we are at now $1.79 per gallon of unleaded regular.

6. What did you last pay for gas? $1.79 a gallon for unleaded regular.

-- suzy (its suzy2@walkin.now), May 05, 2001.

Ditto on the first 5 questions. We buy our fuel by the 1000 gal and as we are still using gas from early 1999, I don't know what the cost is. However, the cheapest I have seen in our area of Ocala Florida is $1.69 for the cheap stuff. Have seen the supreme over $2.00. I have a 1989 Taurus thats very good on the gas milage. The other two vechicles are one ton pick ups and both use diesel. But we buy that wholesale too, but at the pumps, Chubby Hubby says its $1.55 to 1.65. Off road diesel is about $1.20. Goes up daily! Taz

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), May 05, 2001.

Tongue-in-cheek: 1) Do I expect $2 gal. gas to dampen consumer confidence? Only if they're idiots.

2) Do I expect $2 gal. gas to cause inflation? Um--what's that?

3) Do I expect most people to travel less when gas hits $2? What?!--and miss the excitement of traffic jams, the stimulation of breathing deisel fumes, and the thrill of dodging orange barrels?

4) Am I personally going to cut back when gas reaches $2 per gal.? Heck no--I've got all the money I need.

5A) At what price would I consider conserving? When certain places freeze over.

5B) How do I conserve? You ought to try that 25 mile jog to work--does wonders for the other drivers.

6) What did I last pay for gas? Anything I could get away with.

-- Boondocks (maboulden@gilanet.com), May 05, 2001.

I suppose, when gas passes $3.00, I'll schedule-down on my car trips somewhat. My son, however, who is a hi-tech millionaire, when asked what he would do if gas went to $10 a gallon, says, simply, "I'll pay it."

-- JackW (jpayne@webtv.net), May 05, 2001.

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?

Yes - it is already being spoken about widely on tv, radio and many times a day, I hear co-workers speaking about the costs of gasoline, etc....

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?

Yes, it will affect the price of everything we buy - food, clothing, medicines, entertainment, etc... Directly or indirectly the production/transportation costs will increase. It may be subtle at first, but the effects will be real nonetheless.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?

Yes, other than the independently wealthy, I hear of many people who are considering other options - mass transportation, car pooling, etc... My family has already postponed two out-of-state trips until later this Fall, when (hopefully) the gas prices will be lower.

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?

Yes, I am currently doing so. A family member of mine and I are carpooling, and we make far less trips - planning our stops ahead, to save on milage and fuel costs.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve?

Already currently attempting to conserve. See response to question #4 above for further details.

6. What did you last pay for gas?

I paid $1.79/9 per gallon, but have seen it as high as $1.86/9 and as low as $1.71/9 per gallon. (All quotes are for regular unleaded gasoline.) I have *heard* (but not seen) a quote of $1.95/9 per gallon for unleaded gasoline in the Columbus Metro area.

Last year, the gas price topped out at $2.03/gallon here in Columbus. I expect it to go far higher this summer, hopefully no higher than $2.50/gallon. I suppose it will all depend on the electricity and the health of the refineries on the coasts...

-- Deb Mc (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), May 05, 2001.

First here are the questions in formatted html that you can cut and paste in. Put your replies in after the '</b><br>' .

<p><b>1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?
</b><br>

<p><b> 2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?
</b><br>

<p><b> 3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?
</b><br>

<p><b> 4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?
</b><br>

<p><b> 5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve?
</b><br>

<p><b> 6. What did you last pay for gas?
</b><br>

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), May 05, 2001.

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?
Without a doubt, it is an extra 'tax' burden. Like a transportation fee. The money has to come from somewhere in the budget, unless folks tap the credit cards - and that pipper will need to be paid, too.

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?
Vendors / mechants will have to pass the higher cost of business on to their customers, too. It is coming out of someone's budget, it may as well not be theirs.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?
yup, mainly to and fro work. Already seeing a rise in bus usage and that is really impressive, since the bus system here is borderline on the abusieve side. On Week nights last run is 7pm, and 9pm in high usage areas. Weekend runs are 2-3 hours apart. This effectively makes a low wage worker pickled on getting a better pay for the evening / night shift.

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?
Yup, and had commuted using the commuter train most days with other job.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve?
Not really sure how this is different than reduce consupmtion: Unless the means getting a more effectient vehicle or carpooling... Carpooling is not so easy when everyone works in vastly different areas. I am working on build a battery powered bike.

6. What did you last pay for gas?
$1.65, Today I saw reg @ 1.59 - 1.79 and high test @ $1.79 - 1.99 . Now ain't that a heck of a spread? That's what happens when you cross county lines. :))

In Palm Beach FL

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), May 05, 2001.

1..In my neighborhood Yessiree~ Confidence is eroding & fast.

2..Of course~~ Inflation is ALLREADY firing up & prices are CREEPING UP & UP

3..I think otheres like myself are finding ways to limit travel allready!

4..I HAVE ALLREADY Cut travel by 40~50%

5..I started conserving @ $1.50 & have steadily cut my spending & travel as Fuel costs have Soared!We are looking for a more economical vehicle as well. BTW SUV's are FOR SALE EVERYWHERE. The local paper is full of SUBURBANS BLAZERS & Fullsize Pickups!! The locals roads & intersections are swamped with cars for sale & SUV'S Make up a Large percentage!

6.. Tonight I paid $1.88 HERE IN N CALIFORNIA $20 GOT ME 10.15 GALLONS OR LESS THAN 1/2 A TANK!

7.. The question you didn't ask> @ $3.00 a gallon I will just stay at home & use a Cycle to pick up groceries & do errands!!! Geno-Ca

-- Geno-Ca (headturbo@hotmail.com), May 06, 2001.

The trucking companies are going to get severely dinged. Every thing you touch comes in by truck. The size of the trailers have increase from 40 feet in length to 53 feet in length and to pull these hulks down the highway requires engines up to 500 horsepower. In the old days the speed limit for trucks was 55 mph but since on time deliever, the trucks run as fast as the law allows. Law of diminishing returns says higher speed much higher fuel consumption (of course all things equal). Add on top of the increase in engine horsepower and the resulting increase in fuel consumption the added cost of refrigerating these long legged trailers, I think the refrigerated transports will die.

-- David Williams (DAVIDWILL@prodigy.net), May 06, 2001.

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?

Here in California, consumer confidence was dampened with the energy crisis and the upcoming blackouts. The gasoline price increases is the icing on the cake, and the cherry is the bubble that is ready to burst.

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?

Of course it will cause inflation, businesses will raise their prices for goods and services. Consumers will cut back on goods and services because they are struggling to pay for the bare necessities. Businesses will layoff workers and some will simply close their doors.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon?

Some people will, especially those who are on a fixed income. I think people will start using public transporation more, and they will probably limit trips out of town.

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon?

Probably not. I'll cut back on snack foods, alcoholic beverages, etc.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve?

If it reaches $2.50 a gallon, I will limit trips to town, and I will not spend money on items I can live without. I'll switch to using generic brands of foods, and cleaning supplies.

6. What did you last pay for gas?

Paid $1.93 a gallon in Pollack Pines, CA (near Placerville).

-- CAkidd (CAkidd_94520@yahoo.com), May 07, 2001.

1. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to dampen consumer confidence?

Yes, but only temporarily. I expect folks will cut back in other areas to compensate, then find they now have extra money to blow.

2. Do you expect $2.00 a gallon gas to cause inflation?

Yes, but only slightly.

3. Do you expect most people will travel less when gas is $2.00 per gallon? Only SUV drivers.

4. Are you personally going to cut back on consumption when gas reaches $2.00 a gallon? No, I drive a fuel efficient Honda Accord.

5. At what price would you consider attempts at conservation? How would you conserve? Gas would probably have to go above $2.50 for it to start bothering me.

6. What did you last pay for gas? $1.76.9

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), May 07, 2001.