According to a recent Reuters article, Goldman Sachs is predicting that oil prices “could ultimately surge all the way above $100 a barrel.” The company says this “super-spike” period may last for years as prices reflect the increasing demand for oil worldwide (and especially in the emerging economies of China and India). Oil prices have averaged just about $50 per barrel so far this year — up by about eight and a half dollars from last year’s record $41.48 per barrel.

Oil in high demand might not be helpful to the economy, but you never know–maybe it will finally compel the U.S. to think seriously about developing renewable, alternative energy sources…