It's interesting how much US gas prices change in terms of percentage. Lower taxes means a larger percentage of the fuel cost is actual fuel, so fluctuating fuel means wildly fluctuating prices. In the places with higher tax rates (fucking canada), the prices seem a lot more stable. I filled up 2 days ago and it was $1.05/L ($3.97 per US gallon). I remember that back in 2005, gas prices were usually around $0.85 ($3.21 per US gallon). That was normal prices then and now we're talking about "high" prices, but it's really only about a 25% change over a span of 5-6 years. That sucks, but Canadians can deal with that rate of change.
You guys in the US had much cheaper fuel in 2005. You're not looking at 25% jump in fuel price, you're looking at 50%, 60%, maybe more. That's a change that is really hard to deal with. You buy a small truck under the assumption that fuel will be $200/month, then suddenly it's $300/month.
It's interesting because the top 10 cars in Canada are
all compact cars.
link. We know fuel is expensive because of the taxes so we all drive small cars. When fuel price goes up, it's a small enough
percentage that we can find a way to change the budget and make it work somehow.
The best selling cars in the US are mostly midsize cars. Instead of the civic, it's the accord. Instead of the focus, it's the fusion. When fuel is cheap, your midsize car costs as much to run as my compact car. When fuel prices start to climb for whatever reason, my fuel bill goes up 10% while yours goes up 25%. It's easier to adjust to that 10% change than to adjust for 25% change even though both prices are going up by the same absolute amount.
