So naturally, when retail gasoline prices spiked 62.7% since December 29, 2008, amidst a severe recession, I wanted to know why. Put another way, average U.S. prices at the pump have increased more than a dollar per gallon. Intuitively, we know this isn’t a positive event for economic recovery. But some say the increase in gasoline demand, and thus the price, is an indicator of economic recovery.