I have to agree with you. We all do in the end suffer from higher gas & oil prices. While part of me does enjoy seeing all the SUV drivers complain and moan at the pump, it also puts more of a hurting on my budget as well.

One classic example of the higher gas prices trickling down to consumers, is from my trash company. They charge $X/3months PLUS a "fuel surcharge". I hate it, but they all do it here, and base it on gas price of $2/gal (as if we'll see that price again anytime soon). I wish they'd just up the price of the service, and if gas falls lower, refund it back to me at the end of the 3 months. Atleast that way I know what my "max" pay amount is.

Anyway, in the end, it's all based on global supply and demand. The supply isn't going up as fast as the demand is. I hate paying more for anything if I don't have to, but you pay more for one thing, and cut something else out of you budget.