COLUMBUS, Ohio — American families are feeling pinched in the pocketbook as runaway inflation continues to affect just about every sector of our economy. Rising energy costs are often among the first indicators noticed by consumers, namely how much it costs to fill up your gas tank. The nationwide average of gasoline recently reached a record $4.33 per gallon, the highest it has been in almost 15 years. (The average was $4.15 as of yesterday, April 7, according to the AAA gas-price average.)