Euan
Demand is dropping, but at a decreasing rate (in US).
Here are last 4 weeks of Mastercard data for YoY gasoline demand:

10/24/2008 -8.0%

10/31/2008 -6.6%

11/7/2008 -5.3%

11/14/2008 -4.3%

If shippers start to ship again, we will get boost in demand even in recession/depression. At least here, gasoline is probably the MOST affordable item there is. (well, SPAM is pretty cheap too but gasoline has more joules and uses)

RE: SPAM

Yes and gasoline is probably more nutritional.

RE: SPAM
As a musubi afficianado I resent that remark. Nothing like processed meat. Burger King sells two different specials with spam in Hawaii.

At least here, gasoline is probably the MOST affordable item there is

True, but it it still less affordable than a year ago and that is the point - in order to continue world economic growth the oil has to become ever more affordable so we use more of it, and for the last 9 years or so it has mostly got ever less affordable.

Even at $50 the oil has risen ~400% in those 9 years, way above wage inflation, the only reason US gasoline demand holds up is because your day to day lifestyles depend on its use and it takes a long time to change. First you will give up discretionary things that use oil, like air flights to go on vacation.

If shippers start to ship again

Næt - can you explain please.

And do yo have data on the energy density of Spam? Or is this an unsubstantiated claim? And beyond powering vehicles and other motorised tools what else is gasoline used for;-?

spam has 176 Calories per 2-ounce serving, so 5891000 Joules per pound. So it takes ~22 pounds of spam to get the same amount of energy as in a gallon of gasoline.

This is kind of silly though.

I agree, the benchmark energy content foodstuff in the peak oil community is Cap'n Crunch.

Hi Folks,

spam has 176 Calories per 2-ounce serving, so 5891000 Joules per pound. So it takes ~22 pounds of spam to get the same amount of energy as in a gallon of gasoline.

More importantly, what is the EROEI of this 'fuel'? The real context is that 'spam' and all similar processed foods have huge hidden energy inputs - it might be useful to do an analysis on the energy input into producing these 'foods' - a life-cycle analysis - from farm to sewage plant - so to speak...

L,
Sid.