This is a huge beef for consumers; it's a huge beef for the retailers.

California retailers have a whole lot of obstacles to selling gasoline. You have stringent environmental regulations that add to it.

If you have two clerks, there's more of a temptation to resist, which could cause an escalation of the situation. And if it is a truly heinous act of violence, you just put more people at risk.

There was an increase in thefts immediately, especially with the dramatic increase of prices. After Katrina, there were so many retailers that couldn't absorb losses anymore ... so they went to prepay. They couldn't afford that one drive-off a day that would hurt their gas profits. And with Rita ... we will see more stations go pre-pay, if nothing else, as a temporary solution.

No matter how old you are, there are things you can pick up to round out your stocking.

Everyone is trying to capture those last-minute shoppers.

Consumers are trying to displace the pain for a few weeks.

It's all related to how recently you got your shipment. Retailers base prices on replacement costs.

It's actually proven to be much more powerful in people's minds.

It's a significant hit to a very stressed system, and we're bearing the brunt of consumer frustration,