Gas Down More Than a Penny and a Half This Morning
HARRIS: The nation's gas prices. How you drive may help determine what you spend. Gas is down more than a penny and a half this morning. Today's national average about $3.91 a gallon. 20 cents less than the record set just what -- two weeks ago. One big reason, Americans are driving less. Yes, but if prices continue to fall, will we return to old habits? Gregg Laskoski is the managing director of public relations for AAA south. He is Tampa, Florida. Gregg, good to see.</s>GREGG LASKOSKI, FMR. REPORTER, HERALD STATESMAN YONKERS, N.Y.: Good morning.</s>HARRIS: All right. Let's tackle this. Do you believe the consumer is having a real impact on gas prices by driving less and changing out the gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient vehicles?</s>LASKOSKI: No question about it. We know that any time that we can get into a more fuel-efficient vehicle, as well as doing some of the things on the road that can help improve the fuel efficiency of whatever we're driving collectively across the country, that's having an impact on the nation's fuel supply, and all of these things are going to be factors that can help bring the price of gasoline down.</s>HARRIS: And the markets respond? The traders? The speculators? OPEC? Do markets respond?</s>LASKOSKI: They respond really to a variety of factors. And one of the things we saw this year is that supply and demand fundamentals were not the only things that were influencing the price of gasoline.</s>HARRIS: Yes. Yes.</s>LASKOSKI: It was the weakness of the dollar that drove an awful lot of what we saw this year, but no question about it. Supply and demand remains a very important component.</s>HARRIS: OK, Gregg, do you believe that if consumers continue to improve their energy use in their lives, we could see further, maybe steeper reductions in oil and gas prices. Could we get to, I don't know, maybe $3.30 a gallon, $3 a gallon?</s>LASKOSKI: I don't know if we're going to see those numbers any time soon.</s>HARRIS: Oh, come on, Gregg!</s>LASKOSKI: I'm sorry to tell you that. But we have to do everything we can to conserve gasoline. And I think, as we see these figures -- you know, the Department of Energy is reporting that fuel consumption is down by about 2.5 percent. Some people say it's down by even much more than that. Those numbers are helping to drive our fuel inventories up. And collectively, again, all of these things are going to help us conserve fuel and bring those prices down.</s>HARRIS: OK. Do you believe there is a gas price tipping point where combined with the crazy reduction in prices that we're seeing on SUVs now, America could actually decide to start buying these larger vehicles again?</s>LASKOSKI: I don't think we're going to see that happen. I think we --</s>HARRIS: Do you think this is structural now?</s>LASKOSKI: Definitely. We've seen a paradigm shift. And I don't see us going back to those big gas guzzlers any time soon.</s>HARRIS: OK. Let's talk about the smart driving tips, the energy-efficient tips that will help us continue to enjoy these gains. What do you think of the idea of simply just slowing down, that's got to help.</s>LASKOSKI: Absolutely. Slowing down is always going to help, because the faster a car goes, the more fuel it burns to overcome the air resistance. Slowing down is going to save you gas.</s>HARRIS: Check the tire pressure, check your air filter.</s>LASKOSKI: Absolutely. Tire pressure is -- it doesn't cost you anything and that's one of the most important things that you can do, not only for your own safety, but it will improve your gas mileage. We say that for every pound of pressure, you may be underinflated. You can be losing as much as two percent of your fuel economy.</s>HARRIS: Nice. Gregg, should we continue to think about downsizing? How much car do you really need?</s>LASKOSKI: That's always a good idea. You know, especially if people are just doing local driving, you know, the errands, grocery shopping or whatever. You don't need the big SUV to do that.</s>HARRIS: How about this, if you don't have to drive, don't drive. Carpool, take the train where available, plan your trips.</s>LASKOSKI: Everybody is looking at all of those different options, and it makes a lot of sense.</s>HARRIS: How about, I guess I wanted to ask one more question. This debate about whether you use the AC or you leave your windows down. Where do you stand on that?</s>LASKOSKI: We know that's been debated. We try to tell people, you know, instead of having that knee-jerk reaction when you're going to work in the morning and putting on the AC, leave the AC off, open the window a crack and you'll be fine.</s>HARRIS: And clean out the car if you've got a whole bunch of unnecessary. So, don't drive around with the golf clubs and that sort of thing, right? I mean, come on.</s>LASKOSKI: Exactly. If you lighten the load that the vehicle is carrying, it's going to help your fuel economy.</s>HARRIS: So, the consumer deserves some credit for what's happening with gas prices. Can we say that flatly, Gregg?</s>LASKOSKI: Well, I think, again, the biggest factor isn't necessarily the reduction in our consumption, but it's really in the weakness of the dollar. What we've seen in recent weeks, the dollar has strengthened, and with the dollar strengthening, crude oil is no longer as attractive as it had been. So, with crude oil prices coming down, retail prices follow.</s>HARRIS: I certainly want to factor in, you know, the choices of the American public in that equation. Gregg, thanks for helping me do that.</s>LASKOSKI: Thank you.</s>HARRIS: Gregg Laskoski with the</s>AAA. COLLINS: What do you say when the president of the United States drops by for your birthday?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here. Here I am. Oh, I was just happy. The biggest thrill of my life.</s>COLLINS: 43 surprises, 91. Meet the birthday girl.