Every time gas prices rise, Cynthia Redeaux has a little less money for restaurants and movies.

Things were better when she rode an express bus from Douglasville to her job in Midtown. Then, her shift changed, and she makes the 40-mile journey from Villa Rica to work at the wheel of her Toyota RAV4.

"Two round trips equals about a half a tank of gas," she said. "The bus pass cost me $80 a month, and now it costs me about $80 a week [in gas]."

The spending shifts are going to get larger: This week, the national average for regular gas hit a record, climbing to just over $3.30 a gallon.

In Atlanta, gas averages $3.23 a gallon compared with $2.52 a year ago, according to AtlantaGasPrices.com.

The fundamentals of supply and demand have contributed to the increase.

So, too, have the weakening of the dollar; investors' purchase of oil to protect themselves against inflation; and flat growth in oil production.

If the price goes much higher, Gwenn Swain and Tom Davis may have to add a third member to their car pool.

"Right now, because I'm saving on gas [by car pooling], I go out to lunch," said Swain, who lives in Woodstock, 28 miles from her office near the corner of North Druid Hills Road and I-85.

"If gas goes up ... I'd have to brown bag it."

HOW IT'S RISEN

Average price per gallon for unleaded gas:

..........Atlanta....USA

Friday ....$3.23....$3.31

Thursday ..$3.23....$3.31

Week ago ..$3.22....$3.29

Month ago..$3.15....$3.19

Year ago ..$2.52....$2.73

Source: AtlantaGasPrices.com