One Bright Spot in the Dismal Economy: Less Money Needed For Gas
Laura Beth Stricker
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: News
|
The good news? Look at gas stations recently.
I watched in amazement as I was riding up to Mountain Lake this weekend to see almost every gas station on the four-hour ride to advertise less than $2 a gallon for regular fuel. I can't remember the last time I saw less than $2, and to think that just this summer the country was over $3 and pushing toward $4 and $5 a gallon.
According to CNNmoney.com, light crude oil closed at just over $57 on Friday, which is mind-boggling to think about when just a few months ago oil prices were soaring past $100 a barrel and expected to go even higher.
There has also been a 60-day consecutive drop in gas prices. The national average price for a gallon of gas has now dropped to $2.105 from the shocking peak of $4.114 in July. To think, just five months ago many were complaining about how much gas cost and how we couldn't afford it.
Look at us now. I'm expecting a lot more smiling faces around campus and more outings since gas is something that even poor college students like us can now afford again. I don't think that the reality of gas dropping so low has even hit some people yet since it's been so high for so many months.
Unfortunately, this lone bright spot in our country these days is a result of lots of troubles that have been building in the last few weeks and months. I don't have to elaborate on the economic problems; I think we've heard enough of it to last us a while.
As I've said in my previous columns, I'm grateful that I'm a college student and don't have to deal with these problems and worries long term at the moment. But, at the same time, I realize I won't be in college forever. None of us will. I feel especially bad for you seniors since you're inheriting these worries come graduation.
Although I'm happy to see that paying for gas is becoming a little easier on the wallet, I'm still concerned about other matters, especially whether or not I'm going to be able to get a job for summer break. I know that I'm not the only one thinking that way, which makes me wonder how our country got into this whole mess anyway, and just how are we going to get out of it?
Be the first to comment on this story