"OUT OF GAS" CALLS INCREASE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORINA

With gas prices now well over $4 USD in many places across Southern California a disturbing trend is reemerging.

For the first time since the record-setting gasoline- and diesel-price summer of 2008, there has been a double-digit increase in the number of Southern California motorists gambling -- and losing -- a bet that they will find a pump price they can live with before they run out of fuel. Experts say it's a common form of rolling the dice out of anger and frustration.

"When prices go up, people like to push it. If it is costing you $50 or $75 or $100 to fill up, that is real money they don't want to part with. They are hoping to find a bargain, and they push it further and further," said Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, a system of 185 websites where members post the highest and lowest prices they find.

AAA of Southern California says that an average of 15,600 of its members a month are having to make one of those mildly embarrassing "stranded, need gasoline" emergency calls in the 13 counties within the organization's jurisdiction. That's an increase of 12.9% over the first quarter of last year, and it represents the biggest jump since the California gas-price average hit the AAA all-time-high mark of $4.61 a gallon on June 19, 2008.

[snip]

The current state average is $4.191 for a gallon of regular gasoline, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, which is compiled by the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That's up from $4.125 a gallon a week ago and just $3.112 a gallon at this time last year. Among states, only Hawaii, with an average of $4.464 a gallon, has more expensive gasoline than California.

If filling your car (even a hybrid one) is costing you $50 or $75 or $100 to fill up, that is real money you don't want to part with. Most anime fans often drive great distances to get to conventions they want to go to. If those fans that drive are getting hit with these prices to fill up thier cars now try to imagine what it will be like when were in the "summer convention season". A season that happens to align with the summer driving season when prices peak.

Already we have 4 states, some who are home to the larger amine conventions,  with gas prices above $4 USD. If you do not think this has an effect please note how non-anime fans are reacting.

AAA of Southern California says that an average of 15,600 of its members a month are having to make one of those mildly embarrassing "stranded, need gasoline" emergency calls in the 13 counties within the organization's jurisdiction. That's an increase of 12.9% over the first quarter of last year, and it represents the biggest jump since the California gas-price average hit the AAA all-time-high mark of $4.61 a gallon on June 19, 2008.

 A 13% increase and gas prices are still rising with no end in sight.  It will be interesting to see how this affects the conventions.