Since WW2, the economy has averaged 57 month growth cycles, with recessions/slow periods in between--70's...sucked (but the gas thing was previously unheard of...ground-shaking change to economy there, +..Carter handled it poorly, other than letting the price of fuel float) in 82-83, economy FINALLY took off...tapered off end of 80's...went great throughout most of 90's, last quarter or 2 under Clinton it tanked...has been going great guns since '02-03 or so, NOW starting to tail off. It's predictable, just like senate hearings into gas-price gouging every spring:huh