Staff Writer
Twenty dollars used to go a lot farther in Michaelynn Schuyler's gas tank.
Kendrick Brinson/Staff
Savanah, 4, smiles as her mother, Michaelynn Schuyler, checks out at Publix in Augusta. The family made a special trip to the store because it had a buy-one-get-one-free deal for juice boxes and money is tight because of high gas prices.
Kendrick Brinson/Staff
Savanah, 4, watches her mother, Michaelynn Schuyler, load several bags of juice boxes into the car. Though splurges have been out of the question lately because of gas prices, Ms. Schuyler says she hopes to vacation with Savanah this year.
The single mom from Augusta said the increase in gas prices means that she and her daughter Savanah, 4, no longer go out to eat and that cutting back at the grocery store is a must.
Ms. Schuyler, 39, often bargain hunts for items such as juice and snacks for her daughter. She works two jobs, one as a teacher at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church's Mother's Day Out and another as house manager at Summerville Place Personal Care Home.
"It's very aggravating," Ms. Schuyler said while picking up groceries at Save-a-Lot last week. "It seems like I can only get fewer and fewer things every time I go to the grocery store."
The rising cost of food and transportation reflect the trickle-down effect of higher oil prices, said Mark Thompson, an Augusta State University economics professor. Because oil prices won't improve anytime soon, consumers are making adjustments to deal with the escalating cost.
Transportation costs have affected the food industry, and for consumers that means higher prices for milk, bread and other common items, he said.
The price of national brands of milk, cereal and eggs has skyrocketed at grocery stores across the country, said Dwaine Stevens, a spokesman for Publix Super Markets.
Publix has begun combining loads of food items and reducing fleet trips to ease transportation costs.
"We're just being smarter about transporting, which has saved us 27,000 miles on all our fleets each week," Mr. Stevens said.
Oil prices will get worse before they get better, said Al Danielsen, a University of Georgia economics professor.
The price of oil has more than doubled in the past three years, rising from $50 to $110 per barrel, which will not change much by the end of the year.
"Normally, oil prices would rise 4 or 5 percent each year. We're seeing it rising 30 to 40 percent each year," Dr. Danielsen said.
Summer vacations and retail purchases likely will be the first casualties as gas prices continue to climb, Dr. Thompson said.
Ms. Schuyler and her daughter have not gone on vacation in two years. She vows this year they will go somewhere.
"If I have to get a loan, I'm going this year," she said.
Though the cost to fill up has increased, gas consumption has not changed much, Dr. Danielsen said. Gasoline consumption has decreased by 1 percent since last year, but if gas prices go beyond $4 per gallon, consumers will feel the pressure.
"People might start buying smaller cars in the long run or carpool," Dr. Danielsen said. "Their pattern of behavior will really change at that point."
"Right now, it's going to hurt the people who are making $10 an hour or less a lot more than those making $30 an hour."
Chris Lucas, of North Augusta, does not agree. Though he makes more than $10 an hour, he is feeling the effects of high oil prices, he said. Several months ago he visited his mother in Thomson on a weekly basis. He now visits her once a month.
He used to budget $60 a week for gas when he made the 70-mile round-trip in his Dodge Ram 1500. Now, Mr. Lucas, 31, sets aside $70 each week without the weekly trip.
"She wants me up there, but she understands," he said. "It's getting ridiculous. It doesn't matter how much you make. When a normal everyday expense becomes greater, it affects you."
Mr. Lucas said he likely will purchase a 1980s model Honda and cut back on weekend fun if oil prices don't improve by the fall.
Walking to her second job might become Ms. Schuyler's way to combat high gas prices by the beginning of the next school year, she said. She is hoping that she and Savanah will soon enjoy their regular trips to Chuck E. Cheese again.
"I just try to be happy and get up every day and say, 'Maybe all of this'll stop.' "
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
AVERAGE GAS PRICES IN AREA
|
REGULAR |
MID |
PREMIUM |
| Current |
$3.230 |
$3.472 |
$3.626 |
| Monday |
$3.213 |
$3.454 |
$3.607 |
| Month Ago |
$3.088 |
$3.319 |
$3.467 |
| Year Ago |
$2.620 |
$2.816 |
$2.941 |
Highest recorded price of regular unl.: $3.230
NATIONAL AVERAGE GAS PRICES
| REGULAR |
MID |
PREMIUM |
| Current |
$3.331 |
$3.537 |
$3.665 |
| Monday |
$3.339 |
$3.547 |
$3.672 |
| Month Ago |
$3.215 |
$3.414 |
$3.537 |
| Year Ago |
$2.780 |
$2.951 |
$3.058 |
Highest recorded price of regular unl.: $3.339
Note: Prices as of Tuesday
Source: AAA Travel Agency
HIGH PRICES TO CUT DEMAND
NEW YORK --- Retail gas prices could climb as high as $4 a gallon this summer, but prices at such lofty levels will make many Americans think twice about hitting the road this summer, the Energy
Department said Tuesday. High prices and a weak economy are expected to cut demand by about 0.4 percent during the peak summer driving season.
-- Associated Press
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