I saw the statistic recently (sorry, no citation) that U.S. oil consumption fell 3% last month as compared to the year-ago month.

That, of course, is in response to the surge in oil and gas prices over the past year and especially in the wake of the gulf hurricanes in late summer. And as a result, gasoline prices here in Minneapolis are actually about 15% lower than they were before Katrina hit (but still quite a bit above last year).

A 3% drop in national oil consumption is remarkable, astonishing even. It demonstrates just how quickly people will adjust their behavior based on a sudden jump in prices.

And, frankly, there a lot of simple and painless things many Americans can do to save gas short of buying a new hybrid car. Drive the sedan instead of the SUV. Walk for short trips. Take a bag lunch to work instead of driving to a restaurant. Go to the mall once a week instead of twice.

People have been buying hybrid cars, too, and for every fuel-efficient compact sold, there's a gas guzzling SUV not sold. Even after just a few months that will have an impact on how much oil we consume.

But the real question is whether people will go right back to their old habits now that gas prices are dropping.