Year at the pumps

We're paying a lot more than at the beginning of 2009, when an average gallon of regular in the L.A. area was a mere $1.84. Now, it's $2.97. That extra $1.13 adds another $15 or $20 every time you fill up, which amounts to a negative economic stimulus. Here's the rundown from the Energy Information Administration. The reason we're paying so much more for gas is that oil prices have more than doubled since the start of the year, mostly on the bet that with the economy getting better, demand will be stronger. Oil is trading at around $78 a barrel and could easily top the $80 mark in short order.