It affects your life in more ways than you imagine. It's the difference between paying $15 or $30 to fill your tank„gas prices!

Especially in the past few months, with the war in the Middle East, gas prices have been unstable. Fortunately, Akron has been blessed with some of the lowest gas prices in the country. According to www.Gaspricewatch.com, the lowest price in the country was actually in Akron. The Speedway on Home Avenue was charging $1.09 on May 15. The highest price, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, was $2.27, and the national average was $1.56.

Junior Joe R. Buzzelli, a North Hill resident, said it all depends on your gas station.

"Some gas stations around my house have extremely high gas prices," Buzzelli said. "Usually Speedway has low prices, so I tend to go there often."

Buzzelli's is lucky to live on the North side. According the Web site www.Akrongasprices .com, 12 of the 15 lowest prices in the area were found in North Akron or northern suburbs. However, the site also reported that five of the 15 highest prices in Akron were in the Hudson-Twinsburg area, where prices range from $1.44 to $1.49.

Despite relatively low prices, junior Steve Eickelman gets upset when gas prices jump in the middle of the week.

"It's annoying when you go to get gas and it's up 20 cents from the day before," Eickelman said. "Then the day after, it's low again."

Junior Steve Wise suspects the main reason for unstable prices is the war.

"We are at war with a country that owns a good portion of the world's oil," Wise said. "Of course our gas prices are going to be messed up."

However, many experts think inconsistent gas prices may have to do with problems in areas other than the Middle East. According to www.homertribune .com, the likelihood of higher gas prices is due to other international markets. Because of political turmoil in Nigeria, production of oil sold to the U.S. by Nigeria has been cut 40 percent. Moreover, Venezuela's state-operated industry is threatened with potential drops in production because of military problems there since December. In addition, some experts expect a strike in Colombia.

Still, despite the uncertainty, we are lucky to live in an area where gas prices are so low.