I'm John Batchelor, Lancaster County, the best county in the Keystone state,

watching the American economy

from the point of view of the Amish country with Jim McTag, former Washington editor for Barron's

magazine, now a novelist in Lancaster County. Mr. McTag, it is Easter weekend. You've been to Costco,

you've been to the gas pump, you've driven the roads of Lancaster County.

Let's begin with the price of oil and the price of gasoline.

You reported some hours ago it was at Costco, which is the best price in the county.

367. What is it today, Jim?

$3.97. Now, I have an SUV, and I got half a tank, and it cost me $24. There was a fellow in a Ford 150 ahead of me. He filled up. I looked at the pump

when he left. It was $89. So the most popular flatbed, the most

popular vehicle in America, the F-150 is now about $90 for a full tank of gas. Is that the

conclusion? That's the conclusion. That has to hurt. It's much bigger than they budgeted.

All right. You've also looked at the prices for the county.

What is the average price in Lancaster County?

Not at Costco where you get a discount.

No, I looked at all the fast food gas stations, you know, like the Wawa, which is a popular chain in Pennsylvania.

Turkey Hill, another popular chain, sheets, $4.11.

So that's taking a bite out of people's budgets here.

Because, you know, we're a prosperous county, but pay here is slightly below the national average.

So spiking gas is going to hit consumers here harder than other parts of the country.

So the F-150 at the local pump is more than $90.

All right.

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