Cars and gas may be near a US tipping point

In the past, purchasers of gasoline and SUVs seemed insensitive to the ascent of oil prices. While real wages stagnated, it would seem people financed those $50 fill-ups with home equity loans and credit card debt. As long as money was "free," no set of incentives would change behavior.

An article in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat (CA) suggests things have changed. "