Crude Awakenings

Rising energy prices have drivers fuming as they empty their wallets to fill their tanks, but the increases also have trickle-down effects that reach far beyond the gas pumps. The tremors of the oil shock are being felt throughout the Canadian economy, affecting goods and services that people don't necessarily think of in association with oil prices – from home-based craft makers and commercial bakers, to furniture stores and florists. Click on the images to read what people across the country say about how expensive fuel is affecting their lives and livelihoods, and what they predict is in store if prices continue to climb.

<img name="crudeawakenings" src="http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/imagemap-crude-awakenings/crude-awakenings.jpg" width="575" height="616" border="0" id="crudeawakenings" usemap="#m_crudeawakenings" alt="" /><map name="m_crudeawakenings" id="m_crudeawakenings"> <area shape="rect" coords="8,10,113,171" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/20/f-qanda-denisandbauer.html" title="Deliveries: Nicole Denis of Northern Delivery & Courier Service Inc. in Brantford, Ont." alt="Deliveries: Nicole Denis of Northern Delivery & Courier Service Inc. in Brantford, Ont." /> <area shape="rect" coords="446,482,566,590" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/25/f-qanda-brianwickens.html" title="Event Planning: Brian Wickens, event planner in Toronto" alt="Event Planning: Brian Wickens, event planner in Toronto" /> <area shape="rect" coords="314,454,434,616" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/30/f-qanda-warrenpalfrey.html" title="Outdoors: Warren Palfrey, competitive sled dog racer in Yellowknife" alt="Outdoors: Warren Palfrey, competitive sled dog racer in Yellowknife" /> <area shape="rect" coords="185,500,295,589" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/27/f-qanda-diamond.html" title="Agriculture: Blaine Diamond, potato and beef farmer in P.E.I." alt="Agriculture: Blaine Diamond, potato and beef farmer in P.E.I." /> <area shape="rect" coords="18,495,168,575" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/18/f-qanda-simonpidcock.html" title="Tourism: Simon Pidcock, owner of Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay, B.C." alt="Tourism: Simon Pidcock, owner of Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay, B.C." /> <area shape="rect" coords="465,315,565,465" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/25/f-qanda-.html" title="Food: Danny Farbman, What a Bagel bakery in Toronto" alt="Food: Danny Farbman, What a Bagel bakery in Toronto" /> <area shape="rect" coords="309,304,454,445" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/18/f-qanda-ingeschamborzki.html" title="Volunteering: Inge Schamborzki, Executive Director Health and Home Care Society of B.C." alt="Volunteering: Inge Schamborzki, Executive Director Health and Home Care Society of B.C." /> <area shape="rect" coords="178,313,298,488" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/27/f-qanda-kirmani.html" title="Takeout and Delivery: Ahmad Kirmani, owner of Prime Tandoori House in northeast Calgary" alt="Takeout and Delivery: Ahmad Kirmani, owner of Prime Tandoori House in northeast Calgary" /> <area shape="rect" coords="8,368,168,479" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/25/f-lloyd-qanda.html" title="Entertainment: Adrienne Lloyd, bass and keyboard player with Toronto band Hunter Valentine" alt="Entertainment: Adrienne Lloyd, bass and keyboard player with Toronto band Hunter Valentine" /> <area shape="rect" coords="442,153,542,295" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/20/f-qanda-erinwilke.html" title="Artisan: Erin Wilk, Anatomy of a Skirt in Kitchener, Ont." alt="Artisan: Erin Wilk, Anatomy of a Skirt in Kitchener, Ont." /> <area shape="rect" coords="285,199,425,279" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/20/f-qanda-gardiner.html" title="Movers: Steve Gardiner, co-proprietor of Gardiner's Transport in Goderich, Ont." alt="Movers: Steve Gardiner, co-proprietor of Gardiner's Transport in Goderich, Ont." /> <area shape="rect" coords="126,177,271,297" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/18/f-qanda-nevillemackay.html" title="Retail: Neville MacKay, owner of My Mother's Bloomers in Halifax" alt="Retail: Neville MacKay, owner of My Mother's Bloomers in Halifax" /> <area shape="rect" coords="19,198,119,348" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/18/f-qanda-ilanhandelsman.html" title="Services: Ilan Handelsman, general manager of Bikes on the Drive in Vancouver" alt="Services: Ilan Handelsman, general manager of Bikes on the Drive in Vancouver" /> <area shape="rect" coords="397,26,557,133" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/20/f-qanda-geoffstraight.html" title="Tourism: Geoff Straight, Last Frontier Heliskiing in B.C." alt="Tourism: Geoff Straight, Last Frontier Heliskiing in B.C." /> <area shape="rect" coords="130,24,240,171" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/06/18/f-qanda-michaelvanbakel.html" title="Daily Travel: Michael van Bakel, Gulf Island commuter from North Pender Island, B.C." alt="Daily Travel: Michael van Bakel, Gulf Island commuter from North Pender Island, B.C." /> <area shape="rect" coords="257,11,382,171" href="http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/07/03/f-qanda-jenimah.html" title="Retail: Jeni Mah, owner of Kings and Queens bedding and furniture store in Toronto." alt="Retail: Jeni Mah, owner of Kings and Queens bedding and furniture store in Toronto." /> </map>

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