Our area is starting to really feel the gas cost influence on the economy--with cattle, wheat, and tourism (lake/fishing) being our main moneymakers...
Right now the cattle and wheat is all extremely high output-with mixed potential for return-- with wheat looking good right now with recent rain and $8.50+ wheat prices

-- but still a lot of time and a lot more things can happen before there is a crop- with a lot higher cost output (risk) being on the line... :?
Cattle are not looking as good- altho the grass is there, and there should be plenty of hay- the cattle market has not came close to keeping up with the spiraling falsely inflated oil market....
Around here by now probably 1/3 the calves in the area are already contracted for fall delivery...I've heard of no one that has contracted- and few of the buyers are making offers- waiting on not only feed prices, but to see what transportation costs are in the fall....And those that have got offers said whats been offered so far won't cover the cost of production with all their increased costs....
Tourism is starting to suffer- with none of the motels being booked up- and one of the lake quickstops never opened and looks like it is going bankrupt...The big Governors Walleye tournament is crying for entrants- even lowering their entry fees by $100- but as one of the organizers told me- many of the out of state folks that usually come here for 2-3 weeks fishing and then fish the tournament are saying that beside the price of gas pulling a boat to the area- they can't afford $300- $400 fill up cost of their boats..... That is even enough to deter some locals...
Motels had been all booked for the 4th of July week- and anyone that had an extra room or camper could rent it out, because the town was holding an all class reunion-- but now they are beginning to get cancellations and folks calling saying they aren't coming because of high gas prices...Even my little sister in Texas decided they'd just vacation at home- and cancelled out of the reunion....
And if someone in D.C. doesn't take some action to stop the runaway oil speculation and the connected falling dollar- its going to keep a domino effect going that just gets worse.....
But what can we expect- 2 months ago GW didn't even know what gas prices were- or predicted to be :???: