A few blogs ago, I wrote about rapidly rising gasoline prices. Seems just as Arizona temperatures will rise in the summer, obeying those implacable laws of nature, so will prices at the pump. Gas prices continue to break records in Arizona and across the nation. Well, that’s no news to me as the cost has climbed to more than $3.29 for regular, and my last fill up took a big $121.98 out of my pocket.
This Denver Journal headline caught my eye. And this morning, Market Watch reported unleaded gasoline hit $3.40 a gallon and diesel is even higher. North of the U.S. border, it’s worse, where Canadians are paying $1.30 to $1.40 per liter—that’s about $6 per gallon. And a friend who just returned from Scotland reported her gas cost of £1.30 per liter translated into nearly $8 per gallon. She said she was really grateful her car got 48 miles to the gallon! Grim outlook as far as traveling goes.
On the Self-Storage Talk forum, in the Boat &RV Storage section, I posted a thread asking for feedback on the impact of gasoline prices on RV and boating storage. Comments have been mixed. Replies range from positive that people are still buying and using “road” toys to fears that people will reduce travel.
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association states that gasoline prices are having little impact on RV use. Given the optimistic nature of most, even if Mr. and Mrs. Vacation Traveler can’t take out the RV this year, they are reluctant to jump the gun and sell it—so it’s staying in storage longer. And people are still buying big toys. An item in the CNW Group reported that RV sales in Quebec approached the $1 billion mark for 2007.
Good news, eh? People are unpredictable. Many may seize the moment, figure travel now ’cause they may not be able to afford it next year. Or they may hunker down and vacation in their back yards hoping the gasoline price storm will abate. Perhaps we will know in September when the traditional vacationing time is over.
It’s not yet time to get out those bicycles or that moped!