Pain At The Pump Felt More In Rural Areas

(CBS) 

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The rise in gas prices has been staggering. It took 25 years to go from $1 to $2 a gallon. But just two years to hit $3 a gallon. And two more to reach $4 a gallon.

Some parts of the country are feeling the pain a lot more than others, as CBS News Correspondent Hari Sreenivasan reports.

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Brandi and Dallas Martin have good jobs. They like working at a call center in a small town in central Oklahoma. But with soaring gas prices, getting to work has been getting too expensive.

"In the last six months gas has gone up, we've constantly thought, man we've gotta find something that's closer, we don't have a choice," Dallas says.

The Martins drive 37 miles each way.

"And what kind of bite is that taking out of your paycheck?" Sreenivasan asks.

"A big one," Dallas says. "It takes about a one-fourth of our paychecks together."

The Martins aren't alone. Gas prices are hitting especially hard in rural America.

In the south and Midwest, where fuel prices are around $3.90 a gallon, the median income is only about $38,000 a year. Here fuel prices can eat up about 15 percent of a family's budget.

Compare that to the costs where fuel prices are higher, more than $4 a gallon, but so is take home pay. Fuel prices here are only about 4 percent of the family income

"The pain at the pump is definitely not spread evenly," says Tom Kloza, an oil industry analyst.

Kloza says rural areas, where long distances are common and mass transit is rare, are bearing the brunt of the gas prize squeeze.

"In the heartland the fuel price is probably more apocalyptic than on the coast, so this is going to hurt," Kloza says.

The problem was so bad, the Martins' employer started a fuel assistance program -- even awarding a cash bonus to employees based on how far they drive.

The program has allowed the Martins to keep their jobs. But for millions of other Americans the only relief at the pump is a remote hope that prices will ease sometime soon.

[fishinfool43]

I''m self employed. I drive a full size van to haul my tools and pull my trailer. Last month my fuel bill was $1500. I am seriously considering shutting down, auctioning everything off and going to work within walking distance from my home. Things are tough all over and i cant see a change in the near future.

[acolton1]

HEY CBS thanks for telling US what kind of Vehicle Brandi and Dallas Martin drove. You conviently left that Critical FACT out of the story above. I bet they drive a big SUV or Truck that Sucks GAS. If they drive a big gas sucker then I have no sympathy for Brandi and Dallas Martin they need to get on board and get an economy car.

Fyi: Brandi and Dallas Martin get a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. My car was stolen last year and I WANTED a Dodge Charger but got a Honda Fit with the insurance money and the Honda Fit gets 38mpg because I knew gas was going to go up and up and up. I am a semi large person like you are and the car is small but you have to make choices with gas at these prices.

[toldyouso12]

This pain is felt more by the same crowd who is mad that HRC did not win the Dem nom., can''t stand the idea of a black man as President and plan to vote for McCain to keep getting more of the same? Those rural people? If McCain wins, here''s to the war continuing so more jobs get outsourced, and gas will be going to 6 or 7.00/gallon or higher to compensate. As they sit at home and wait for that government check that McCain cut--they can say--"at least we kept that colored, ''terrist'' guy out the White House" Good luck driving and eating that. LMAO

[michellem99-2009]

I eat a small tv dinner. It hurts all. The poor and the small towns. I feel old as a small bag chips in 63 5 cents that same bag about a dollar today. It is sad that gas is high. I can''t drive and it is unfair. Our check don''t go up to meet it. The govt can do better. They use more gas than us..the military,pres,congress,they use way more.

[mrsdjb]

To the person criticizing about their weight... that is extremely ignorant! The topic is about the cost of gas!
The cost of EVERYTHING is increasing because of the cost of gas, not the other way around. It''s cheaper in most cases to eat at McDonald''s or Taco Bell than to buy groceries & cook. Especially here in Oklahoma. $1 for a double cheeseburger or 2 tacos vs. $2.50 for the meat to make a double cheesburger or tacos at home... PLUS the toppings!
It''s sad but true... but the gas to drive back & forth 30-40 miles each way isn''t worth it! This couple both worked at the same place during the same hours (I know cause I worked with them at this call center for a short time) so the bite from their paycheck wasn''t as bad since they only drove 1 car. I worked in this town as well as my husband & unfortunately we had to drive 2 cars since we worked opposite shifts & neither of us could change our schedules. It''d cost nearly my entire paycheck JUST for the gas for both vehicles to drive back & forth 30 miles 1 way for 1 car.... so 120 miles/day for both cars.
It''s really not easy here, plus the payrate vs. cost of living is HORRIBLE!

[lovesamerica]

What imbecils to take notice of their weight. That isn''t the issue,it''s that more and more of us are feeling the pinch as gas and other products increase in price.Shame on you. fat, skinny,old, young ,black,white, wealthy or poor. Our economy is in a bad state. Great for you if you happen to be 6'' tall,slender and rich. But us others,life just keeps getting scarier, and harder

[erehak]

In response to: "Despite the fact that their jobs are just as easily done from India rather than Indiana, the technology exists that could easliy route their jobs to their living room."...

To work from home requires an employer who is willing to pay for the technology that allows it. I''ve worked in call centers for nearly 14 years (including big corporations such as Qwest Communications, Ameritech, and Bell Atlantic). Small town call centers can''t afford that technology; it just isn''t in the operating budget. Right now I work in a town 15 miles from the town I live in. If there were jobs available in the town where I live, I wouldn''t be driving 150 miles per week. And I''m sure this couple wouldn''t be driving 37 miles each way if there were jobs available closer to where they live.

If the fact that they''re overweight makes you think they must be stupid, well, that tells us something about YOU.

[oneworldusa]

For starters, the people in the picture COULD go on a diet and save some money by eating less and when their weight goes down they will save on fuel too.

[eredev]

WELL OUR POLITCAL PIGS JUST GET WORSE THEY ARE RICH AND WE ARE POOR. WHY SHOULD THEY WORRY THEY ONLY HAVE TO SERVE ONE TIME AND THEY GET FULL PAY AND PERKS FOR LIFE, GEE I WISH WE ALL COULD DO THAT. WE HAVE LET THEM MAKE RULES THAT ONLY DO THEM GOOD AND US WE SINK OR SWIM. SO MUCH FOR THE VACATION THIS YEAR AND I DRIVE A HYUNDAI AND STILL STUGGLE TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK AND FOOD ON THE PLATE. THIS NATION BETTER WAKE UP AND START TELLING OUR POLITICAL POWERS THAT BE WE ARE SICK OF THEM LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELF IT TIME TO LOOK OUT FOR THE ONES WHO PAY YOUR STINKING HIGH SALERY. IT IS A SHAME THIS THE MOST POWERFULL NATION IN THE WORLD IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY A BUNCH OF RICH PIGS AND I MEAN THE WASHINGTON ONES. ITS TIME THEY COME BACK TO THIER OWN STAE AND SEE WHAT NAFTA AND THEY HAVE DONE TO THE USA AND ITS PEOPLE. THEY HAVE SENT ALL OF OUT TO SEA WITH BRICKS ON OUR FEET AND SAID SINK OR SWIM.I WISH I COULD GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE ONES IN WASHINGTON BUT THEY MAKE IT NEAR IMPOSSABLE TO DO CAUSE THEY MIGHT HEAR THE TRUTH AND THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. OUR GOVERNMENT TELLS US WERE FREE BUT I DARE YOU TO SAY NAYTHING DIRECTLY AGAINST ONE OF THE PIGS THE WILL HAVE YOU LOCKED UP AND TELL EVERYONE YOURE UN AMERICAN. B.S. GOD BLESS THE USA AND THE TROOPS THAT ARE SEVING OUR NATION BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH BRING THEM HOME AND LET THEM CLEAN UP OUR STREETS AND WHEN OUR OWN YARD IS CLEAN AND IN ORDER THEN WE CAN WORRY ABOUT EVERY ONE ELSE.

[SayCricket]

"lessons". My bad. LOL!