Some economists estimate that for every one-cent increase in the price of gas, spending in other areas will decline by one billion dollars. Wal-Mart estimates that higher gasoline prices take away $7 per week from an average family budget.

It has a much faster pace than football or boxing. And it's something the younger generation has been accustomed to now: instant solutions and continuous action. This also may be a way for men to show their manhood, so to speak (when they gather to watch these events as fans). It's male bonding and a way to show that one is tough.

In the old days most software manufacturers provided free support for their programs--it used to be possible to call the WordPerfect Corporation on an 800 number to get free help. Nowadays, you have to have a credit card handy to get help.

Maybe in a tight market when interest rates go up people may not be able to afford as much. You may be stuck with a house a bit more than the market might demand at the time.

You get a certain benefit from getting a bargain, over and above the financial benefit there's a psychological benefit. There are a variety of reasons why people may feel that -- one is the thrill of beating the system. Another is demonstrating the skill of being able to find good bargains.

Gasoline is a very emotional type of product at the moment, and it's highly visible. It's on people's minds a lot.