Do We Value Gas Over Water?

"During the summer, convenience-store owners in southern Maine live by one rule: Liquids reign. To understand why, look no farther than the corner of Maine Street and Spring Water Road, where dust-covered SUVs and minivans roll into the parking lot of the Village Kitchen. Here, fathers pump gasoline outside while mothers and children duck into the store and emerge minutes later with arms full of bottled beverages, often water. But customers who take a close look at their receipts may note a curious fact: The water costs more than the gasoline. Nationwide, the numbers vary depending on sales taxes, the type of retail outlet involved, and the brand purchased. On average, however, the pricing relationship is the same. In this regard, it makes the US a global paradox. Most nations pay far more for gasoline than bottled water, even though it is often their only source of drinking water."

Thanks to Christian Peralta