Some new notes on our economy that I would like to bring you. The result of traveling and observations from just everyday life.

 On Saturday, Mandy, the boys and I drov through Sioux City, Iowa. Roughly 24 hours later we drove BACK through Sioux City, Iowa. In that 24 hour time span, gas prices increased by 10 CENTS! In ONE day!?!? Ouch.

 Then this morning, I went out to do some shopping. I passed a gas station and noticed the gas price. About an hour later I came back out of the store and looked at the same sign. The price per gallon had increased by 2 CENTS in ONE HOUR!

 Come on!

 Then Mandy had to get a prescription filled. She took it to another pharmacy, not the one she normally goes to, just to get a price comparison. The result? The new store charged her 12 dollars LESS for the same prescription she usually gets filled somewhere else. A 12 DOLLAR SAVINGS just by changing stores.

 My wife is the Queen of bargain shopping, thank goodness, for just this very reason. She knows what stores charge for everything from New York Strip to deoderant. It seems it's necessary now more than ever. Just simply amazing what prices are doing these days.

 I heard something on the radio a couple of days ago and it makes sense to a certain extent, but I wonder when it would really kick in. The commentator on the radio said people will only buy gas up to a certain price before they REALLY cut back on travel, and thus cut back on their gas purchases. The commentator says when consumers, fed up and disgusted by gas prices....cut back on demand, the gas prices will fall. I think this is true. Basic economics says so. The other side of that coin is once people start buying again, the price will go right back up again.

 Something has to be done. I know I have said this before and you may be getting tired of hearing me say it, but this is one of those issues that does not discriminate. EVERYONE is feeling pain as a result of this. It is a pocketbook decision that is becoming more top of mind by the day. And solving it will require more than words. It will require deeds and it will be expensive.

 I was just thinking the other night, for everyone to switch over to hybrid fuel or electric cars, the initial cost may be mind blowing. Automakers will have to re-design their plants. That will cost money. They will have to invest in new research and development, which will cost money. One way to make up this cost is to pass it on to the consumer through the cost of the car, meaning we will be paying out more money to get alternative-energy cars up and running in order to make it a viable industry.

 In short, even if our economy improves...it will be short term. The long term, I think, still has a lot of dollar signs associated with it.

 Quote Of The Day: "The future, according to some scientists, will be exactly like the past, only far more expensive." John Sladek

 This Day In History: Axis forces in North Africa surrendered to the Allies on this date, May 12th, 1943.

 Thanks for stopping by and spending some time! Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an e-mail by clicking here.