Why Consumers Think the Economy Sucks

Just paid my gas bill for the month of December, and it's one of the highest bills I've ever paid. And it wasn't one of my high use months, either. Both years the bill covered the exact same term, 34 days, ending December 27th.

December 2004

149 therms used, $225.36

December 2005

142 therms used, $272.20

Last year I used 202 and 165 therms for the following two months, so I should get bills for more than $300 for both months.

I've only had a $300 gas bill once in my life, and that was January 2004 when the temperature for the month was the lowest average since 1895.