On the other hand, that consumption has already been significant for the past couple of years, which suggests that the current spike is either anomalous or perhaps indicative of some new problem that needs to be identified and addressed.

FORBES: A Survival Map in the Age of Product Recalls

Still, while rising demand for oil should be a cause of concern long-term, economists say the current spike in U.S. gas prices is just that--a spike caused by unusually tight supply.

FORBES: High Gas Prices Are Here To Stay