It obviously makes a difference in how far it's profitable to go, but considering that the last time SWMBO took her grandson to a movie here (a couple of years ago) the two of them blew pretty close to $50. Tickets to no-name entertainers (at least whose names I never heard) run $45 - $70 per person, and a couple of recognizable ones were going for $95+ each.

So gas is $3/gallon - but popcorn is $4.50/small bucket and a coke at the movie is $3.50 - $7.50 depending on size ($15/gal?).

I think a cup'a at Starbucks runs about $37/gallon or so?

There may be some slight drop in attendance at our big (WVA) fest, but it won't do the local economy much harm since you have to reserve more than a year in advance to get a room within 35 to 50 miles, and the last time we asked the local vet - on the way out from one festival - if he could reserve a space for our pooch for the next one he said we were "more than a year too late - do you want to reserve for the year after that?"

I'd expect people to perhaps cut back on the CD and souvenir purchases; but with some it's a "tradition" to get something, so many of them will get something but perhaps a little smaller than before. We skipped the annual sweatshirts last year already; but that's just 'cause the welfare check won't stretch.

Local reports say that AAA is puzzled that the gas prices haven't significantly affected the pleasure trips people take, based on the last couple of price bump cycles. That may be propaganda to encourage people to go ahead and git; but it doesn't seem that the prices are hurting the "tourist" movement. It is killin' the truckers, especially the indys that have cents/mile contracts and have to buy their own juice, so they'll appreciate the problems of the festy business people.

John