Are Americans having a difficult time with rising fuel/oil and food prices like most developing countries are?

I'd like to know how much of an impact (if any) high oil/fuel and high food prices have on the average US citizen. I live in South Africa and the average South African - myself included - are not coping well with all these ever increasing food and fuel/oil prices..Are Americans having a difficult time with rising fuel/oil and food prices like most developing countries are?
Well, we think it's bad and relative to how it has been for the average American, it's definitely the case, but most Americans still have a very, very, very long way to slide before they hit the same level as third world nations.





What it means for most Americans is trading their gigantic SUV with a V8 for a 6-cylinder sedan; going out to eat once less per week; turning the lights off in the rest of the house when they're not occupying it; not using as much water for their lawn... the sort of stuff that our gov't was pushing us to do back in the early-late 90's that disappeared inexplicably sometime around 2000.





Back then, it was a preventive measure. Now, it's necessary.





People on the lower end of the economic spectrum are having to make bigger cuts; food prices have jumped palpably, and in the Bay Area where I live, for instance, a frozen pizza sets you back $5-9, gas is averaging at $4.01, and natural gas prices have jumped 400% since '02. Meaning that they're screwed in a variety of different ways. Of course, as the cost of living has gone through the roof, wages have remained stagnant, and now, jobs are being cut.





The upper end of the economic strata could care less.Are Americans having a difficult time with rising fuel/oil and food prices like most developing countries are?
Of course we are. Some people rely on oil to heat their homes and have to go periods of time without any heat or hot water. It's also past leisure car trips and into making it difficult for people to find transport to their jobs. More people are lining up at food banks and clipping coupons, too. We're not starving, clearly, but it is having a huge impact in our lives.





I don't think it comes close to the devastation of other countries, as we are extremely spoiled in comparison.
not at the moment but its rising and rising which it could be. But because of the higher prices and I have cut alot of my driving and going by at least 75% sad I just don't see the point of wasting so much money. I used to go a lots of joy rids but now its like uhm over 3 dollars to drive 14 miles its not worth it
well i can tell you as and American middle class it's really taking a toll on the middle class when it cost you as much money to fill your gas tank up as it cost for your car payment there's a problem there.but until we all stand up and do somthing about it nothing will change.....you see what's happening in America as well as alot of other countrys is GREED and it may be the down fall of man.





ASK YOURSELF HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH???
everyone gripes and complains here but no one is stayin at home.. lol so i couldn tell ya how it effects others.. seems like everyone is coping well.. I;m not... seems like all i work for is gasoline. it sucks... something will happen soon.. it cant keep going up without breaking the economy.
Wow, surprise surprise,





You finally realised that America doesn't control the price of oil and food in the world.
I've cut back on driving around quite a bit to save money on gas.





A gallon of milk costs around $4.50 where I live. (mountains of Colorado) Buying groceries is awful...
Sux here too. What are you paying per litre/gallon? Were at 3.45/gallon (about 2.5 litres) ( I think).
Yeah it is getting pretty bad.
Disney World is going to suffer! (tongue in cheek!!!)





Seriously, we are all in a world of hurt!





Many Americans haven't even yet begun to undersatnd the enormous problem!!!!!