It's About Time! SUV sales decline

From Reuters:

Rising U.S. gasoline prices are hurting sales of large sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, according to some industry analysts, a trend that could stall a major engine of profits for Detroit's automakers.

The gas-thirsty, full-sized SUV segment lost 1.2 percentage points of U.S. market share over the last two months and large pickups were down about 2 percentage points, according to Edmunds.com, which tracks the industry.

Fuel-efficient compact cars, on the other hand, gained 2.2 percentage points of market share in the same period.

It's a start. I'm afraid that a lot of environmentalists and some politicians see improving the fuel efficiency of the American automotive fleet as the only thing necessary to solve our energy woes. Eventually, it's going to take a lot more than that. Somebody driving a Prius alone 400 miles a week is actually more a part of the problem than someone carpooling 100 miles a week in an Expedition. But until people decide to use walking and bicycles and mass transit, and make commuting distance a prime factor in buying a house or taking a job, we're going to have an energy problem.

That said, getting many of the behemoths off the road will certainly be pleasant! Let the oil soar!