A lot of people are in denial. They are expecting it to come down. They think the price is related to [the U.S. invasion of] Iraq, and that the price will fall eventually. But it's a lot more complex than that. |
At the local level you really can't do anything about gas prices, ... The prices are set at both the national and international level. The prices are set by supply and demand. |
Gasoline is a very emotional type of product at the moment, and it's highly visible. It's on people's minds a lot. |
In the old days most software manufacturers provided free support for their programs--it used to be possible to call the WordPerfect Corporation on an 800 number to get free help. Nowadays, you have to have a credit card handy to get help. |
It has a much faster pace than football or boxing. And it's something the younger generation has been accustomed to now: instant solutions and continuous action. This also may be a way for men to show their manhood, so to speak (when they gather to watch these events as fans). It's male bonding and a way to show that one is tough. |
Maybe in a tight market when interest rates go up people may not be able to afford as much. You may be stuck with a house a bit more than the market might demand at the time. |
Some economists estimate that for every one-cent increase in the price of gas, spending in other areas will decline by one billion dollars. Wal-Mart estimates that higher gasoline prices take away $7 per week from an average family budget. |
We don't like the government to tell us what to do. |
You get a certain benefit from getting a bargain, over and above the financial benefit there's a psychological benefit. There are a variety of reasons why people may feel that -- one is the thrill of beating the system. Another is demonstrating the skill of being able to find good bargains. |