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Gas prices hitting local families hard Edgefielddaily.com web posted August 17, 2005  COUNTY - Just six
months
ago people were complaining about the high price of gasoline. The price
at the time was $1.80 a gallon. Since then prices have risen to as much
as $2.50 a gallon, about a 40% increase from the last major jump from
$1.40 to $1.80. The steady large increases have begun to take their
toll on local families.Edgefield Daily.com talked to residents and one common theme emerged, the cost of gas has reached a point that it hurts their family budgets. “We spend about $75 a week on gas compared to about $45 a year ago. We have had to cut our spending at the grocery store, we don’t eat out anymore, and we stopped the trips to the corner store for a Coke,” said Crystal, who did not want us to use her last name. Edgefield Police Chief Ron Carter spends about $40 a week on personal gas purchases and said he has stopped passing slow drivers in his Ford Expedition because, “I can see the dollars flying out of my wallet when I punch it to pass,” he said laughing. Being an optimistic he found a positive in the high prices, “It has probably slowed people down”. Driving has become an integral part of our everyday lives and most agreed that they would pay higher prices to continue to drive, “You have to,” said Rita Carroll of North Augusta, “the kids have to get to the doctor, you have to buy groceries and work.” Her gas purchases have risen to $35 and $40 a week and said the increases have created credit card debt for her family. Charles Yonce of the Johnston area said his family spends about $120 a week on gas with two vehicles, “I make a 50 mile round trip to work everyday,” and said gas prices have hit the ceiling with him. “I can’t see our budget paying more than $2.60 a gallon,” he said. Mr. Yonce stated he thought the best way to combat rising prices is to drive economy vehicles, “Europe has been going that way and they have reduced their usage by about 40%,” he said. Economy car sales are on the rise and with the influx of Hybrid cars they could be the new trend away from SUV’s. Hybrids, which are expensive, are not true values even with the latest hikes in gas prices. Mr. Yonce said economical vehicles were the best route for families and he expects the prices to come down on Hybrids, “once production kicks in.” Chief Carter also said higher prices, “may change the vehicle I drive, but not if I drive.” Crystal said the gas prices would not affect her family’s choice in vehicles, “we buy what we have to have, not what we want to have, because of the size of our family and living on a farm.” She gave as an example, “you can’t haul feed or a horse trailer with a battery operated car.” Barbara Brodie said her family spends between $45 and $50 a week for gas in their two vehicles and said their driving habits have changed, “you think twice now about making that little extra run to the grocery store or that run to Augusta or North Augusta,” she said. There is a point that she feels she would refuse to buy gas but, “It’s hard to say where that is. But there does come a time when you have to say it.” Rising prices would reduce her purchases she said, “I know the more I have to pay for gas, the less I’m going to use.” Becky Griffith, of Merriwether, said she spends $60 in gas just for her car and prices have definitely changed the way her family is driving, “we make fewer trips to town. Living in the country you just have to pay (higher prices).” She said her family would be forced to pay higher prices no matter what, “I guess we would just eat hamburger.” The recent rises in prices have wiped out any pay increases said most we spoke with. Crystal said her husband received, “a 4% raise this year and gas prices are putting us in the hole.” Related: Opinion The price we pay: According to the Department of Energy 44% of the cost of gas is the crude oil, 15% is refining costs, and marketing and distribution makes up another 18% on average. Taxes fill the remaining 23%, or 56 cents per gallon for taxes on the national average.
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