In the past year, oil has blown by $50 a barrel and peaked briefly at $70 altitudes, sending prices at the gas pump temporarily into the psychologically jarring territory north of $3 gallon.

• 过去一年，油价飙升到每桶50美元并且曾一度达到70美元的峰值，加油站每加仑3美元的油价曾一度使北部地区心惊肉跳。