The price of gas is hovering around 3 dollars a gallon. While people complain about how expensive it is to fill up, economists say the cost of gas affected people's budgets more twenty five years ago than it does now.

Drivers who've logged many miles behind the wheel say they remember a better time for gas prices. 

"Well, I can go back to the 1950's when we used to buy gas in Watertown, SD for 9 cents a gallon, you just pay the tax, and you'll never see that again," Said Hubert Valberg as he filled his gas tank.

Economists say if you take out the cost of inflation, some of the highest gas prices in history came in the late 1970's and early 1980's during a worldwide shortage of fuel. 

"Then up to 23 cents and we thought my golly. Then fifty cents, then 1 dollar, and then it just keeps going up ever since," Said driver Ed Limke.

"It was just miserable, people would go to a station and only be able to get 5 gallons.
Prices then affected people more than they do today," Added Valberg.

In 1981, the average person spent 6 and a half percent of his or her budget on fuel. That number is down to 4 percent today, mainly because of 2 things. Vehicles are more fuel efficient, and people are paid more today. 

To put it in perspective, in order for gas to affect people the same today as it did back then, economists say prices would have to rise all the way to $5.50 per gallon.
(All statistics compiled by Professor Emeritus of Economics Ralph Brown, University of South Dakota)

And those with memories of the past will remind you, it could be worse. 

"Today is higher, but at least we're not having to wait in line," Said Limke.