Tag: aaa

Gas Prices Hit Working Poor

The price of crude oil has reached a record high. Some people are expected
to feel this blow harder than others. Kyle Norris has more:

Transcript

The price of crude oil has reached a record high. Some people are expected
to feel this blow harder than others. Kyle Norris has more:


A barrel of crude oil costs a record one hundred dollars. Everyone is feeling
the results of this rise at the gas pump. But researchers say it’s hitting some
people especially hard.


Nancy Cain is a spokesperson with AAA:


“Who it really hurts is really the quote-unquote working poor. The people that
really are working jobs just making it, getting by, week to week. They’re
spending more and more of their money and they have less available cash
than some other people do.”


She says that rising gas prices link to rising grocery costs. Which also have
serious consequences for the working poor.


For the Environment Report, this is Kyle Norris.

Related Links

Epa to Tune Up Fuel Economy Estimates

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to change the way it calculates fuel economy estimates on the window stickers of new cars and trucks. Consumer and environmental groups have been arguing that the estimates don’t match up to real world driving. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Rebecca Williams reports:

Transcript

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to change the way it
calculates fuel economy estimates on the window stickers of new cars
and trucks. Consumer and environmental groups have been arguing that
the estimates don’t match up to real world driving. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Rebecca Williams reports:


The current EPA tests assume cars and driving conditions are the way
they were in 1985. The tests don’t factor in air conditioning, driving in
cold weather or driving any faster than 60 miles an hour.


The EPA says the new methods will lower the miles per gallon estimates
on most vehicles. The city estimates for conventional cars and trucks
could drop 10 to 20 percent. For hybrids, the city estimates could drop
up to 30 percent. A hybrid’s fuel economy is more sensitive to cold
weather and air conditioning.


Consumer groups say the new tests will give buyers a more accurate
picture of the car they take home.


Susan Pikrillidas is with AAA.


“We do honestly and truly believe that accurate labels will cause people
to buy more fuel efficient vehicles particularly in light of the high
gasoline prices.”


Under the proposal, the new test methods will begin with 2008 models…
so you could see the new stickers on cars as soon as fall 2007.


For the GLRC, I’m Rebecca Williams.

Related Links