Drivers changing habits as gas prices soar

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June 9, 2008

By LUCAS BLAISE The Press Republican Mon Jun 09, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- As gas prices rocket toward $5 a gallon in the North Country, drivers are biting the bullet, making sacrifices in an attempt to save.

Gas prices have increased nearly 30 percent since this time last year, averaging $4.19 for a gallon of regular unleaded, 21 cents above the national average.

Most retailers surveyed by the Press-Republican said their prices would be going up again within a week, spurred partly by the international market.

Earlier this week, an analyst from the Morgan Stanley brokerage firm announced that crude oil could reach $150 a barrel by July 4.

On Friday, the price of crude oil jumped $15 in three days to $138.54 per barrel, and analysts suggest gas prices could increase 25 cents within the next few weeks as a result.

"It's just disgusting," said Kelly Lewin of Wilmington. "I pray that they go down, but I don't think so. They've got us."

Lewin traveled to Plattsburgh with her husband, Everton, to do grocery shopping on Saturday. While regular unleaded costs $4.17 a gallon in Lake Placid, the Lewins felt it was better to drive to Plattsburgh and shop instead, where fuel hovered between $4.19 and $4.29.

"Shopping is brutal there," she said of the price of goods in Lake Placid. "It's worth it to come here."

But, she said, that shopping comes at a cost.

"We don't do anything. We just go out to go shopping and then go back home."

Mary Jacques of Lewis, and her family have made similar sacrifices.

"It's so bad that we bought this," she said, waving to her new Chevrolet Aveo LS, but "we used to have a van."

With five children and a multitude of extracurricular activities, she and her husband felt that buying a new car was better than feeling the pinch at the pump.

"It costs around $90 to fill up the van. It only costs $40 for this," she said.

The car has also become her work vehicle since she drives 70 miles round trip each day.

Despite the better fuel economy, she said travel is still a challenge.

"We used to go for joy rides and look for yard sales, but now we don't do so much.

"You don't come to Plattsburgh for just two things; you wait until you have a list."