Experts are now saying that oil will be at least $7 by the end of this year. There’s an interesting article here about it. Europe’s already up to $9 a gallon. That will roughly double the amount we’re paying in gas every month.
Questar, the gas company here in Utah, has announced it plans to raise its rates by 45%. That will be at least $75 more a month on our gas bill during the winter.
Geico informed me last week that car insurance rates are going up too. Starting this September, it will cost an additional $100 for a six month premium. I don’t think that is related to oil or the economy. They just realized Utahans were bad drivers.
Groceries are going to go up to. I heard on the radio yesterday that trucking in kiwis across the country from California to New York is more expensive than shipping them in from Italy (and it’s better for the environment apparently too).

I’ve had a lot of conversations lately with people about changes they are making in their lives because of this economy and oil crisis. Already we know people who have long commutes that are seriously looking at houses closer to work. Other people I know are working on building up food storage with the scare of grocery stores not getting in shipments due to trucking strikes against high oil prices (which has already starting to happen in many countries). Many people I know are considering buying smaller, more fuel efficient cars.
Luckily for us we live very close to work and grocery stores, etc. but driving down to Provo and back will cost us close to $20 in our relatively fuel efficient car and a road trip to Jackson or St. George will require saving up a little.
I’m curious what the blogging world is thinking about all this.