Lower gas prices return to Indiana

Even though gas prices have decreased over the last week from a high of approximately $2.10 per gallon to an average of $1.82, Bloomington area residents say the decrease in gas prices will not affect their driving habits.\nShellie Goetz, an IU alumna, said she commutes four hours a day to her job and she is happy the prices are down.\n"Instead of spending $20 to fill my tank, I am spending about $15," Goetz said.\nJunior Leah Oren said she recently took a road trip from Seattle to Chicago, so she is aware of the price change and is happy to see it. \n"I used to drive around to find the lowest gas prices," Oren said. "Usually it was a few cents difference. But now I am not as stressed about finding a good price."\nAl Phillips works for Bloomington News, a company that distributes The New York Times. He said since he has to pay for gas anyway, the change in gas prices don't bother him one way or another.\n"I drive 240 miles a day delivering papers and I fill up the tank every morning," Phillips said.\nKenny Burner, a Bloomington resident who bought a Toyota Tacoma last October, said the high gas prices made him choose a small vehicle that gets better gas mileage. He said he was not likely to go on any road trips now that the prices are lower. \n"I think Bush is trying to get re-elected," Burner said.\nAccording to an article on the CNN Money Web site, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, said in April that his country wants to stabilize world oil prices because of the effect a price spike might have on economies around the world, including Saudi Arabia.\n"Certainly over the summer, or as we get closer to the election, they could increase production several million barrels a day and the price would drop significantly," Bandar bin Sultan said later that month in a CBS 60 Minutes interview.\nLana Wykoff, the manager of the Circle S #50 gas station, said people are just buying whatever they need. She said the prices are not stopping them from buying gas.\nHowever, some people are doing some extra driving. Jennifer York, a Bedford resident, said she came to Bloomington to do some camping at the Hardin Ridge campground and go shopping. She said she was more likely to take another trip now that gas is cheaper.\nRoger Clark had just bought an RV for the purpose of pulling racecar trailers when he stopped at the Mac's on Third Street to put $20 worth of gas in his vehicle. He said he is glad the price has gone down because now that he has the RV, it will cost a lot to fill the tank each time.\n"It is good that the price is low, but it needs to be a lot lower," Clark said. "I think they are gouging us a little bit." \n-- Contact staff writer Karen Yancey at kaeyance@indiana.edu.