It wasn’t long ago that the price of a gallon of gasoline on the Vineyard reached the $2 mark for the first time, sending shock waves from Menemsha Texaco to the Edgartown Mobil station and prompting fears about the effects of higher fuel costs on the summer tourist industry and year-round economy.

That was six years ago. Now with gas selling for an average of $4.75 a gallon for regular and premium selling for over $5 a gallon, the idea of $2-per-gallon gas on the Vineyard seems outdated and nostalgic.

Last year Vineyarders lamented the onset of the $3 gallon of gas; two months ago the price for regular eclipsed $4 per gallon for the first time. It is conceivable that people may be paying $6 a gallon or more by the end of this summer.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” complained seasonal Oak Bluffs resident Brian Hughes as he watched the counter on a gas pump at Jim’s Package store and gas station Wednesday. “It’s disgusting how much gas costs . . . it makes we want to put my car in the garage and never take it out again.”

“I can remember when it cost $30 to fill my whole tank,” recalled Connecticut resident Sharon Carone as she waited in line to fill her Jeep Cherokee at the Corner Depot in Edgartown. “Now $30 won’t even fill half my tank . . . my son just got his license and he wanted to borrow the car last weekend, and I told him to take the bus or a cab — it will probably be cheaper.”

The national average price of gas reached an all-time high yesterday of $4.09 a gallon — up 76 per cent over a year ago. Prices on the Vineyard also climbed to new high water marks. Regular gasoline at DeBettencourt’s service station in Oak Bluffs was selling for $4.75 a gallon, while a gallon of regular at Airport Mobil was going for $4.74. Regular gas at Jim’s Package store was $4.75, while at Up-Island Auto gas was selling for $4.67.

The cost of premium is generally between 20 and 30 cents more than regular gasoline.

Data gathered from the American Automobile Association indicates that motorists in Dukes County are paying more for gas than almost all drivers in the nation, except a few counties in California and Nantucket. A quick survey of off-Island gas stations in the region shows motorists here are paying approximately 50 cents more a gallon for regular gas. The Palmer avenue Texaco Station in Falmouth was selling regular for $4.25 a gallon on Tuesday, while the Falmouth Gulf Station on Main Street was selling regular for $4.19 gallon.

And if you think Island gas stations and wholesalers are making more because of the increases, many say they are not.

Michael Rotondo, owner of Airport Mobil, said he makes less when prices go up because he pays more for each gallon, and more people charge gas to their credit cards when prices are higher. The station pays the credit card company 1.5 to 3.2 per cent for every transaction. He said he often absorbs seven or eights cents for each gallon he sells to try to keep gasoline affordable to consumers.

Also, people are simply buying less gas. “It’s not like people stopped driving their cars, but I’m definitely selling less gas. People are being slightly more conservative,” Mr. Rotondo said.

Numbers from the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority indicate that rising gas prices are prompting more people to take the bus. Ridership for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 eclipsed the one million mark for the first time.

Transit authority general manager Angela Grant said extra bus routes were added this year, although that was part of a plan initiated last year due to increased ridership. She also said at peak hours there are too many passengers and not enough busses, and people are sometimes turned away and forced to wait for the next bus.

“We’ve had to turn people away in previous years, but we are seeing more of it [this year]. We try to keep up with demand, but there just aren’t enough busses,” she said.

The high price of gas is also affecting the taxi industry. Cab companies in several Island towns have increased fares to offset rising gas costs.

“Most of our tips go right back into the gas tank,” said Josh Tucker, a driver for Tisbury Taxi. “But that’s just the reality of the situation.”

The cost of gas is taking its toll on every corner of the Vineyard economy. The cost of ingredients is up across the board for Island restaurants, which has forced many restaurateurs to pass the increases along to customers. The cost of groceries has also increased, partially because of surcharges enacted by suppliers.

Steve Bernier, owner of Cronig’s Markets, said delivery surcharges usually range from $15 to $20 an order. “We place one order and they ship us three separate deliveries. You aren’t in control of the dynamics of the deliveries, and when your dealing with 400 vendors it’s almost pointless to argue,” he said.

But Mr. Bernier said fuel surcharges are not his chief concern. After nearly two decades of low food inflation, prices for staples like bread, milk, eggs and flour are rising sharply, largely due to market changes in Asia and India. Where those countries used to export basic foods like wheat, they are now consuming goods at an alarming rate, he said.

And as if that’s not enough, flooding in Iowa just raised the price of corn another 12 to 14 per cent, he said.

Paul Pimental, an Edgartown resident and professional engineer with 40 years of experience in energy efficiency and renewable systems, said many predicted that people would change their habits once gasoline reached the $5 a gallon mark. They would drive less, walk more and take a keen interest in alternative energy sources.

But that has not proven to be true.

“Let’s be honest, Ford is not shutting down their assembly lines and people aren’t sinking their life investments to build a solar-powered car. But there have been little changes, people are driving less distances, there are fewer sport utility vehicles being sold . . . then there will always be those people who don’t think for two seconds whether they should drive,” he said.