gasoline pricessoared for the second week in a row, with the latest pump costup 7 cents over the previous week to $2.31 a gallon amid signsof an easing of the recession. gasolinedemand, dealing another blow to a refining sector hard hit byrecession and bracing for more climate legislation.[ID:nN19424376] The White House announcement came as U.S. "This is a winning proposition for folks looking to buy acar," he said. "Over the life of a vehicle, the typical driverwould save about $2,800 by getting better gas mileage." The plan could cut deeply into voracious U.S. The new program will add about $1,300 to the priceof producing a vehicle. Obama said car buyers would recoup the money with the lowerfuel costs realized under more efficient mileage standards.

Congress does not have to approve the standards,which will be implemented through rules developed by theDepartment of Transportation and Environmental ProtectionAgency, which could take more than a year to complete. HIGHER PRICE TAGS FOR CONSUMERS The plan was praised by automakers, environmentalists andan array of politicians, but it will mean higher price tags forconsumers. Obama said the new standards would save 1.8 billion barrelsof oil over the lifetime of the program -- the equivalent oftaking 58 million cars off the road for a year. The Environmental Protection Agency would regulate andreduce tailpipe emissions for the first time under thestandards The U.S. The current law, approved by the Bush administration,requires a similar gain by 2020.

passenger vehicles and lighttrucks must average 35.5 miles per gallon (6.62 litres/100km)by 2016. Criticism of Obama's announcement was limited, and focusedon the higher production costs, the safety concerns created byproducing lighter cars and fears from some observers aboutincreasing government involvement in the industry "The government is now designing our cars. It's out of thehands of vehicle manufacturers," said auto industry consultantLarry Rinek Under the new standards, U.S. [ID:nN19427337] Growing public support for efforts to battle climate changeand the weakened state of the U.S.

auto industry, which isstaying afloat through federal bailouts and restructuring atthe government's direction, gave Obama a window of opportunityto impose the rules. Obama has made fighting climate change a priority, andlawmakers in Congress have begun wrangling over a historic billmany hope will provide broader guidelines for controllinggreenhouse gas emissions. "The status quo is no longer acceptable," Obama said in anannouncement that will pressure carmakers to transform andmodernize the industry to produce more efficient vehicles.[ID:nN19424242] "We have done little to increase fuel efficiency ofAmerica's cars and trucks for decades," he said, calling thestandards the start of a transition to a clean energy economy. Obama said the standards, announced at a White Houseceremony attended by auto industry and union leaders, wouldreduce U.S.