Treb,
If you really want to get into the economics, cost, consumption and history of petro production I would advise visiting this site...It's got alot of interesting charts but, if you have the time, the commentary makes better sense of the charts and graphs.
History and Analysis -Crude Oil Prices
I poured myself into it last night to try and gain a better grasp on the big picture and history of gas prices, consumption, etc. I was thinking along the same lines as you when I started searching for the info but was trying to disprove the modern media theory that Americans are actually rationing their gas today (as a society) because of higher gas prices...bologna. IMO, we're not and haven't in the past regardless of the price of gas. In the chart I posted originally the only time we have lowered our consumption of fuel was when we couldn't get our hands on it.
Check out some of these on per-capita consumption...some of the numbers are hard to believe...but here's what I found...
2003 Daily Gasoline Consumption Per Capita By Country - Swivel
Peakoil.com :: View topic - America Wins in Petrol Consumption per Day
U.S. Per Capita Motor Fuel Consumption by State, 2005.png