That DOT press release just slays me. How do you suppose they measure the miles driven by 200 or so million drivers? By taking a poll?

Look at the gasoline sales numbers for the truth, down 0.04% for april. Within margin of error, I'm sure, so basically no change.

Note at end of press release they shout, "Saved a 9 billion tons of carbon!" I suspect that is what that Ministry of Truth is all about.

I think this writer paints a fairly accurate picture of what will happen. This scenario was already happening with the housing collapse. $4-$5 gas just adds to it.

Across the U.S. we have a very uneven picture of the suffering because it exists in somewhat isolated pockets. Think what this does to millions with upsidedown mortgages. The US gov doesn't really count the unemployed anymore as they have found six ways to Sunday to fix the numbers. Around 20% are self employed and they are never counted since they pay for, but aren't eligible for unemployment comp. Some experts say the real number is well over 10%.

With the price of fuel nearly doubling, most local governments will exhaust their fuel budgets by mid year and have no choice to raise taxes at a time tax revenues are falling due to foreclosures. Fewer homeowners now have to pay more on top of everything else. Then the next prezident will raise taxes dramatically. We've already got local governments filing bankruptcy and there will be many more.

Analysts are predicting a coming wave of bank failures -- no surprise to anyone watching the financial scene. Only the Fed is keeping the big banks alive. Meanwhile the stock market does fine because the Fed keeps pumping money into that professional poker game. And despite all evidence the media says we're in recovery. IN RECOVERY !! From what, reality withdrawal? Where is the Red Queen when you need her?

I think one needs to differentiate between commute miles versus discretionary miles.

I have not noticed much relief on my commute here in Silicon Valley. However, the almost nightly drag racing on the strip behind my house ceased about three months ago.

I'm quite pleased that many high schoolers are being priced out of the cruising scene regardless of how much I enjoyed it when I was their age.

Meanwhile, gas prices in California continue to rise a few pennies a day. Of course, I know that oil traded as late last Tuesday won't begin to be delivered until Sunday. And much of that 135 oil was on the July contract, and barring a collapse, pump prices should continue to rise for a while.

Like many of you, I was pissed to see the US CPI data saying oil import prices were down in April, but I went back to the charts which confirmed that oil was indeed much lower mid Feb when the April contract was closing.

Maybe I will see the Interstate Bicycle System in my lifetime after all!