Gasoline prices

A recent report about on world economics had concluded that China had now moved into third place, (richest industrilised nations) and over taken the United Kingdom. It is now going to demand a much bigger oil supply , as every Chinaman will want a car, and this will affect the supplies to other countries as the produce is a finite resource. Prices at the pumps may have to go up worldwide to europeian levals.

At preasant we in Britian pay the equilavant of $6 to $6;40 a gallon. Where as US prices are less than $2;00 a gallon. about a quarter what we pay

As most of the revenue comming into Las Vegas comes via using some form of Gas how would it affect it ,and the US in general.

As these changes are predicted to take place during the next 20 years, which is not very long.

Would you, Use smaller cars. less of them , more public transport. or pay up and look happy. It would be difficult to shrink the distances.

Or What!

Gasoline prices

British pay $6/gal, avg. price in US is $2.02/gal (www.gaspricewatch.com), not under $2.

Smaller cars? - would probably need some gov%26#39;t incentive (like higher gas taxes or luxury tax on big cars) to push people to smaller, more efficient cars.

Public transport? - only large urban areas have a shot at this. remember, US is much less densely populated (per square mile) than europe, so public transport isn%26#39;t feasible everywhere. My cousin lives in Germany, and he says the mass transit is much better there - but admits the country is more densely populated too, he doesn%26#39;t think the same type of system could work in the US - we%26#39;re just too spread out in many areas.

Or what? - most likely everyone will just keep paying more. If the price per barrel keeps rising, it makes alternative fuels, or harder to get oil (shale oil) economically feasible. But, that%26#39;s why OPEC keeps a lid on prices. If they let oil get to $100/barrel, it would open up alot of alternate fuels they%26#39;d have to compete against. Instead, it%26#39;s in their best interest to keep oil relatively cheap since it keeps out competitive fuels.

Gasoline prices

interesting link: A comparison between rail in the USA and the UK: http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/ukandusa.htm

';What is often not realised is that the UK is one of the most densly populated countries in the world. America has a more fair population density.';

UK population density: 700/sq. mile

US population density: 50/sq. mile

Hate to break it to you, but gas is at some of the lowest prices in our history. The highest prices occurred in the 70%26#39;s during the oil embargo. If you adjust for inflation gas would be around $7 a gallon to today%26#39;s standard of living. Bottled water is more expensive, and it does not need refined, taxed, or pipped.

Hi Vegashomeboy. I remember that. in britian they got as far as issuing petrol rationing books. they sent them out but never got used. Still got mine somewhere! It rationed itself, filling stations got a limited supply and they rationed their custmers.

If i recolect correctly in the US there were one or two shootings while waiting in line wasnt there. I must admit i didnt realise the price had gone up that much at that time. I knew they reduced speed limits to help out.

Didnt know that it is now more than $2;00. I shall have to go a bit easy on the pedal when i come for my holidays.

Welcome to the Economics forum boys and girls.

The transportation issue in the LV valley is not really fuel prices, as much as congestion. Several plans have been put in place, namely a tram/monorail system that would ';hub in'; the downtown area with Henderson/Summerlin, etc etc, and even Boulder. You might have seen that other cities like Salt Lake City -in many ways Las Vegas%26#39; ';Sister City';, LA, and Houston are implementing tram lines.

Something else to consider as well as the physical hugeness of this country is that we are NOT ';Europeans'; in psychology. Americans like cars, and the freedom to go from A to B that provides. Don%26#39;t think that%26#39;ll change until fuel jumps extremely high $5-6/gallon.

Last night it was reported that Las Vegas has the second highest gas price in the country - first is Hawaii.

The predict that by Spring, our price for a gallon of gasoline will beat current record highs, which is (on average) $2.29 per gallon.

Hi Grumblesa10. Your post I find very interesting. Topics like the one i posted bring different opinions wether there for Las Vegas or London. when we last visited Las Vegas we had heard about the trams which run from Mandalay Bay to Escalibur. and MGM to Ballys we thought these were the first bits built of was was going to be an intragated syestme. When we got there it was obvious that it would be difficult to connect these up. Never the less I think if there were to be a intergrated syestme of trams an mono rail up and down the strip with a hub to serve other areas of the vally I think that would be great. It would help the congestion issue and it would be an attraction in its self. Visitor could see the city without having to find their own way around it. and drive to do it . It would mean that visitors like myself even if we hired a car we would only need to use it to go the the places further away, like the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon. and the large shopping mall behond the Airport. At preasant we get into the car, add to the congestion just to to go one individual establishment.

But I expect it comes down to who pays for these large constructions. Its not true that europieans are not very good at putting in tram syestmes . Most large towns and cities on the continent have good tram systmes. But were not very good at it in Britian there are 1 or 2 but you could count them on 1 hand. I have thought for a long time that a mono rail syestme like Disney have would be ideal in our narrow and crowed streets. Stood on concreate pillows in the center resavation above the traffic an pedestrains would be a good solution. They could be run through Shopping Malls. Sports stadiums. and Park and Ride areas. bus and train connections and airports. and all stops along the way. But they never seem to get a second look. With a bit of look some traffic manager might read this? LOL

There is more interest in taking action against the ';Chelsea Tractors';. These are the 4X4%26#39;s that park 2-3 deep in the posh parts of London and go from Brand New show room condition to scrap yard without ever running over a piece of mud or engaging 4 wheel drive, except to demo to their mates when they first drive it home. As there are no gravel or graded Highways in London or anywhere else in Britian, lots wonder why so many are sold. Agrictural areas have farm tracks and muddy lanes of course and need these type of veichels .

But Londoners???????

HI Motor, NJ

I found the web page link you posted very interesting .

The only thing it didnt mention was that back in the Steam Age the US railways used to run a service fron New YorK , Phiadephia, Washington which was a 100mph service. But Carnt remeber what it was called or the engine clsss that was used, but it was a real flyer.

It is now thought that if these locomotives doing this service had been put to the test . They would almost certainly have beat, and held the world record for steam. Which is in British hands with a locomotive called Mallard. Which still ocasionally goes out on the tracks. US engins had one distinct advantages over british steam as most were Oil fired. Where british engins were hand fired by coal. Some of these were notorious for fire boxes clinkering up after a 100 miles or so, and keeping a clean fire was difficult. Sometimes crews would have to pull into a siding for 20 mins to de-clinker the fire bars and build a good fire before proceeding This didnt happen with oil fired. boilers . This was not good publicity for time tables.

$2.30 a gallon in Irvine, Ca

i need your advice