Congress urged to ease pain of gas prices

NEW YORK – The average U.S. household is already spending $1,000 more per year on gasoline than it did five years ago, two consumer groups say in testimony they planned to present to a
House Judiciary Committee task force Wednesday.

That’s an increase of 85 percent, and rural households have been hardest hit because they spend about 20 percent more on gas than urban residents, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union said, citing Labor Department figures.


“It is time for Congress and the administration to do their part to help alleviate the pain consumers are feeling at the pump,” said Mark Cooper, director of research for the federation. At Wednesday’s hearing, he plans to call on the federal government to provide greater oversight over oil industry market practices, create strategic refinery and product reserves, and enact policies that promote reduced oil consumption.

The rising price of gasoline has certainly increased the amount of complaining from drivers paying $3 a gallon or more to fill up their cars, but it so far has done little to curtail how much people are driving.

AP