Where will gas be as we begin slowly approaching the summer of 2009? $3/gallon? $4/gallon?! How about between $2.25 and $2.35! That's the latest word from The Houston Chronicle, which closely follows the oil industry.

Some of you may recall that last year before the peak of the run-up in prices, Clark predicted the national average for a gallon of gas would be $2.25 come May 1.

Long-term, there's no question that we have a problem with supply and demand in the oil market. With today's relatively cheap prices at the pump, this may be the perfect time to steal a deal on a fuel-efficient vehicle since nobody else seems to want them.

Meanwhile, the airline industry is another sector that relies heavily on the price of a barrel of oil.

The airlines have been experiencing terrible sales as of late. So if you have frequent-flier miles in an account, this is the best time to redeem them since the '80s.

For the rest of us, domestic coach fares will be a real deal. Southwest Airlines is offering $98-$238 roundtrip anywhere they fly in the United States. And it looks like the "Gang of 5" full-fare airlines will have to follow with their own heavy summer discounting.

Clark predicts buying a ticket in April for summer travel will be a much better deal than buying closer to the summer -- if you can get the kind of lead prices Southwest is advertising.

Looking to go to Europe? Book a flight for May and you could score a roundtrip ticket in the range of $400. May fares are the best they've been since 2002. No word as of yet on the international deals for June, July and August.