I’m now seeing prices spiking higher.   In 2008, I see the year ending with prices ranging from around $4.30 to $4.70 in some areas of the nation for regular unleaded.  After a light dip in September 2008, the prices will steadily climb again.  By 2010, I see prices around $5+/gal.  I see prices staying in the $5+/gal range for most of the 2010’s.  $5/gal is not a cealing though and there will be times it finds it’s way to $6 /gal and over.  We will never see $3+/gal again after it leaves this range this year and next – meaning there will be some dropping of prices in some areas back down below the $4/gal line, in 2009, but after mid 2009, it will never go back below $4 again.

The spike I see in the first half of the 2010 decade, now looks like it will be just over $7/gal.

We will see vehicles stranded on the sides of roads because they will not have money to pay for gas.

Any changes we can make now in our lives will help us down the road, whether it be towards hybrid cars, adaptations to engines to run more efficiently, smaller cars, bicycles, moving closer to work, motorcycles, propane powered vehicles, and other ideas will help.   (What are your solutions?)

If you’re thinking this is fear-inducing, you may be right, but it won’t be my predicting this here, now, that brings this about.  I’m offering this as a siting of what I’m seeing down the road and around the corner.  I’m hoping to give people a head’s up to what I see coming down the pike.