The other day I read “Gas Prices Rise, and Economists Seek Tipping Point” in the New York Times and it reminded me of something I do now.

Every time I drive by the QT located near my house, I say to myself, “Darn! I should have filled up last week when it was $3.49 (or any other price cheaper than the current price).”  After acknowledging the increase in price, I start to contemplate what I should be giving up to only pay for gas twice a month.

Immediately, I decided to stop making unnecessary trips to random stores just to look at clothes or making that extra trip to publix just for milk.  What keeps on driving the gas prices up?  There are many reasons for this but let’s break it down to supply and demand.

One of the basic reasons why gas keeps getting more and more expensive is because more and more people use gas as a source of energy.  China and other Asian countries are rapidly growing, and they use petroleum day-to-day to fuel their growth (no pun intended).

Another cause is supply.  A lot of times people don’t realize this but if producers don’t produce a lot and there’s still a large demand for it, the prices are up to the producers to set.  If there are 5 people and 3 snow cones left to sell,  those snow cones are going to the people most willing to pay for them.

While I am being a price conscience consumer, I get to produce less CO2 which is great if you ask me.  Whether or not that is my original intention is different.  So the next time you drive, will you be more aware of your gas mileage?  I know I will be.