Although 2011 is still in its early stages, so far this year has not been a good one for gas prices. In many areas of the United States, gas prices are already over three dollars a gallon. In a few places, these prices have reached nearly $3.50 a gallon. What’s even more alarming is that many people believe that gas prices can go all the way up to five dollars a gallon. In fact, there are people forecasting that gas prices in the United States will exceed four dollars a gallon by the time that summer arrives.

The rise of gas prices is somewhat of a dark spot on an economy that seems like it is once again on its way up. While the last few years have been very weak in terms of the economy, there are now signs that the signs are turning around. For one, jobless claims are at their lowest point in nearly 3 years. Another good sign is that the service sector continues to grow. However, despite these good signs, there are still plenty of worries about gas prices. The reason that rising gas prices are still such a significant concern is because if they continue to go higher, experts are worried that people will start spending less money. If this happens, it can cause the economy to once again take a turn for the worse. While this outlook can seem bleak, the good news is that it may persuade more people to purchase cars that are hybrids or at least more fuel-efficient than their existing vehicles.