How much has the price of home heating oil increased?
The average retail heating oil price has increased from $1.18 a gallon in 2000 to $2.84 a gallon in November 2008. That is a 140% increase — more than double the cost. In 2007 alone, average retail heating oil prices have increased almost 40% from $2.41 a gallon to $3.34 a gallon. With prices at these record highs, it would cost over $800 to fill the average 250-gallon tank. In the dead of winter, this would only last an average household about 2-3 weeks. It could cost families thousands of dollars to stay warm — money that will be diverted from food, medicine, and other essential purchases.
