One Reason We Don't Mind High Gas Prices

Rising costs at the pump may empty your wallet, but they could be a boon for your waistline, says Charles Courtemanche, an economist from Washington University in St. Louis. "When fuel is expensive, people drive less and walk and bike more," he explains. Courtemanche speculates that if prices go up another $1 a gallon, obesity rates could drop 15 percent over five years. To get the benefit no matter what the numbers at the pump, try running more errands on foot or by bike.