Why gasoline costs discussed in the media .

Gas prices are often talked about as having an impact on how much people drive. Yet if you ask most people, they will say most of their travel - to work, to school, to shopping locations, to see family - cannot be curbed more than slightly. Similarly, most people are not going to cancel a vacation because gasoline for their vehicle will cost them 38% more than the prior year. These being acceptable facts, explain why gasoline costs are even discussed in the media - especially to the extent they are - and whether you have ever altered your behavior on those costs. Include in your answer your views on why gas prices seem to go up almost the same instant that news outlets announce oil barrel prices are set to increase in the near future, yet they don’t ever seem to drop back down to the pre-hike rate even though oil prices decrease.