Have gas pains?

From the President - www.ygaor.com

www.ygaor.com

(Updated: Friday, May 09, 2008, 5:53 PM)

In today's economy, there's increased pressure on our wallets. We have an upsurge in fuel costs that has led to higher retail prices. Retailers started to feel the crunch of fuel price hikes earlier in the year. They were hesitant to pass their increased cost on to the consumer at that time. I think we can all agree that has changed. When you go to the grocery store for the basics; milk, bread, eggs, butter, and you walk out spending almost $20, that begins to add up quickly. The national average price for diesel is $4.20, and truck drivers are adding fuel surcharges just make ends meet in many cases.

With 2008 being an election year, there is no shortage of fuel price discussion among the candidates. Each has their own version of how to deal with the crunch. There has been discussion of repealing the federal gas tax by giving it a holiday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Is it a short term solution that may or may not give a boost to the economy? There's plenty of discussion on the pros and cons of a temporary repeal.

From the perspective of one that lives in a tourism community, I think the idea is worth considering. Of course I haven't analyzed the long-term affects. People from all over the world pass through this area every summer, and the primary mode of transportation is vehicle. So, will the temporary repeal make a difference to us? According to an article I read in AAA's magazine Via several months ago, the average person on vacation spends approximately $300+ buying items in local communities. I think our local businesses would like to see some of those dollars. From a real estate perspective, we want people to visit and fall in love with the area, and come back to purchase a home or land. The conversations I've heard and articles I've read indicate people are rethinking their family vacations because they can't afford the fuel.

If you and your family are taking off for the summer on a road trip there are some basic things to make sure you get the optimum gas mileage.

Fuel Efficiency Basics

1. Remove unnecessary excess weight when driving your car. According to the Web site fueleconomy.gov an extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by one to two percent.

2. Drive your vehicle at the low end of its top gear. For example, if there's a fifth gear that would be between 40 to 55 mph. (cars.com)

3. Preventative maintenance: properly inflated tires, regular oil changes, air filters and tune-ups.

4. Air conditioning vs. Open Windows: Open windows at low speeds (in town driving) and air conditioning at higher speeds (highway driving). It's recommended that the air conditioning be shut off once the interior has reached a comfortable temperature.

5. Which fuel grade? If your vehicle's manual suggests regular, then use it.

6. Roof top pods and storage containers create drag and also decrease fuel efficiency. If you don't need it, then leave it behind.

7. According to Edmunds.com if you stop driving like a maniac you can save up to 37 percent on fuel. (They conducted a "real world" test).

8. Use cruise control on the open road

9. Avoid excessive idling. According to Edmunds.com this can save as much as 19 percent.