High gas prices - (not so) hidden benefits to cred card companies?

I'm thinking, not only the oil co's reap $ from rising gas costs. How much more often do people use the cred card to buy gas, that is, folks who used to just dig a twenty out of their pockets? I noticed I was inclined to use the plastic but caught myself before getting into that habit, because on $3.00 a gallon, don't also want to pay interest. So if I only have a twenty in cash, getting only $20 worth of gas is the only option. But, though i haven't seen any study on this, I would be willing to bet the high prices result in an increase in credit card spending. Of course, this benefits the big banks too. As the gap between rich and poor just widens and widens.

I don't carry a balance from month to month, so the gas purchase does not cost me any interest. lucky me

carry a balance, just when you think you could pay it off, some other expense comes up.

1% on all other purchases.
Every little bit helps.

the credit card companies are certainly making out bigger with increased usage and the increased prices as they operate on a percentage basis. I have been using credit card for everything gas, groceries, and anything else I can for years. I find it to be more convenient to write on check each month to one place. I also find that depending on the credit card rewards program, my charges total up into either a small percentage back or gift cards for some shopping I would be doing in any case. There is really no way I know of beating the system between the banks, big oil and credit cards companies, so I do what I can to cut what expenses I can (postage, checks and visits to the book store -through gift cards). Paying the entire balance every month, doesn't screw them, but it certainly isn't what the cc companies would prefer.
Ya do what ya can and what works out best for you.....

The CC companies are part of one of those.

rate. The AVERAGE American is spedning more money than he or she makes each year.

Given that wealth is so polarized in America, that certainly means that significantly more than half of Americans are in debt of various forms and many are, no doubt, making up the difference by running up their credit card debt and never going into the black year over year.'

Now THAT'S good for the credit card companies.

and start making new development in a manner that enables more pedestrian and bike traffic, with densities that can support public transportation.

just got infinitely louder.

Those 100-mile round-trip commutes to their McMansions out there in the exburbs suddenly don't look like such a great idea, and now the whole thing will continue its downward tumble.

This country is in for a crash and a depression that's going to make the 1929 stock market crash and the resultant Depression look like a shallow foreshadowing.

I fear for my country right now in so many ways.

Maybe we could turn each of these homes into a multi-family commune with a beaucoup garden in those huge yards.

And rezone so that home-based businesses can operate.

QED