The Fuel Economy: How quickly we forget

Observation:  The Detroit Bureau reports that demand for vehicles of higher fuel consumption has regained some ground, as prices at the pump have stabilized.  Click here to see the story.

Implications:   Are you seeing folks a little less bummed-out about gas prices at your place of business?  If consumers "fear" a little less, are you seeing them spend a little more?  If so, good for you!

But it might not be a great idea to bank on low gas prices over the long haul.  The Middle East has never been a terribly stable place… and you never know when conflict might push prices higher without notice.  And with emerging middle-class economies in China, India and elsewhere, we can expect energy prices to climb based simply on supply and demand.

If you’re a business owner, manager or marketer, how are you exploiting lower (or at least more stable) gas prices right now?  What is your strategy for if (when) prices head the other way?

Mike Anderson, for the Elm Street Economics consumer trends blog. A service of The Center for Sales Strategy, Inc.