Are We Getting Used to High Gas Prices?

Gas prices continue to hover around $4 a gallon as we move into the high driving summer season. Wondering what's going on? Here's what some have to say about what the prices mean, and what should happen enxt:

Sustained higher prices=higher "acceptable" per gallon price 

Consumers are getting used to higher gas prices, MarketWatch reports, and are "juggling their driving and their budgets to accommodate the changes." BIGresearch, a market research firm that surveys customers found shoppers change their behavior when gas tops $2.85 per gallon, MarketWatch reports. And Kelley Blue Book said consumers' acceptable range for gas is $3.09 to $3.44 per gallon, according to the MarketWatch article. 

Once gas prices hit $4 per gallon, MarketWatch reports, again relying on the KBB data, about 66 percent of consumers will change their vehicle choice. 

Force people to buy fuel-efficient cars by hiking taxes

The CEO of GM wants to see the federal gas tax boosted as much as $1 a gallon to push consumers to buy more fuel-efficient cars, according to the Detroit News.

"A government-imposed tax hike, (GM CEO Dan) Akerson believes, will prompt more people to buy small cars and do more good for the environment than forcing automakers to comply with higher gas-mileage standards.

The federal government is considering 3 to 6 percent annual fuel efficiency increases, or 47 mpg to 62 mpg, the Detroit News reports, which could boost the cost of vehicles by as much as $3,500.