Historical highs, new lows--Fuel prices are down from record peaks earlier this year, but the extent of future decreases remains uncertain

摘要

Anyone who drives an automobile or knows someone who does is aware that gasoline prices have skyrocketed in 2008-the Energy Information Administration estimates that the average retail price for gasoline and diesel prices in 2008 will be 3.61 dollars and 4.09 dollars per gallon, respectively. The prices in 2007 were 2.81 dollars for gasoline and 2.88 dollars for diesel. Venturing beyond gas stations, heating and cooking gas bills are expected to pack another wallop. According to the EIA, "Residential heating oil prices during the upcoming heating season [October through March] are projected to average 4.13 dollars per gallon, an increase of about 25 percent over the last heating season. Residential natural gas prices over the same period are projected to average 14.93 dollars per thousand cubic feet compared with 12.72 dollars per thousand cubic feet during the last heating season, an increase of about 17 percent."