Will Americans continue to drive SUVs, big trucks?

Being above average in most things is good, but not when it comes to gas prices.

A couple of days ago it was reported that the average price for gasoline hit a record -- nationally -- at $3.53 per gallon.

What's the gas prices in Greene County? As of the writing of this column the cheapest I could find locally was $3.57, and it was as high as $3.62.

Above average, but not good.

I receive a lot of e-mails daily about a lot of things, but one I got Thursday morning is worth sharing.

It reads:

"Is our government going to continue to sit idly by and let the big oil companies run most every household into the poorhouse? All the while the oil companies are being blessed with tax breaks and reaping unheard of profits.

"Is there an entity that is purposefully trying to destroy the poor and middle class citizens? It seems to me there is. Everything is going up outrageously, except wages.

"What is going to happen to our economy when no one, literally, has an extra dollar to spend anywhere? That does not look like a good picture to me.

"I, for one, am sick of hearing it's all about the 'Free Market' "

I won't share the name on the e-mail, because I'm sure many agree with what they wrote.

But will Americans, including those in this area, change their lives to deal with the high gas prices?

Will we continue to buy large trucks and SUVs that get poor gas mileage? Will it start to matter when gas hits $4 per gallon?

Time will tell.

"Sitting here on the highway (State Road 54 in Linton), with our down time, we see a lot of traffic go by. The traffic is as heavy as it has ever been," Roger Hamilton, co-owner of Linton Motors, said. "There's still one person sitting in a car.

"When gas hit $3 a gallon, things sort of shut down. ... This time it hasn't. Business isn't what it should be, but let's be realistic, it's not like (business) is where it should be for a lot of people. But we've all got short memories. When gas goes back to 3 bucks, we'll think we're stealing it."

Cathy Baker, manager at Kinnett Auto sales in Linton, has noticed a change in some of her customers. She said some are turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

"We have a lot of people coming in and wanting to trade their trucks and SUVs for cars that are more economical for gas," Baker explained.

"We've had some people keeping their vehicle and looking at an older vehicle to drive back and forth to work."

Baker said vehicles that get five or six more miles per gallon can make a big difference.

"Even five or six miles per gallon can help," Baker noted.

Tony Richards, general manager for Bob Walters Linton Motors Inc., said his customers are still buying big trucks and SUVs.

But he agrees that when gas hits that "magic number" people will probably change their buying habits.

"It hasn't yet," Richards said. "When it hits $4, in my opinion, everybody will be looking for those fuel-economy cars. ... It will be the ones who are having to drive to Terre Haute and Bloomington, out of town, to work."

Richards added that "We're still stocking the same type of cars ... just as many SUVs and full-size trucks."

Hamilton added that if gas prices continue to soar, the average American will have to make some tough decisions.

"We only have so much disposable income, and if more of it goes to the gas pumps, we'll feel it at our restaurants and all the way down," Hamilton said.