Marketwatch's Amy Hoak wrote an interesting article on a the hidden cost of auto transport - namely parking. On average parking costs are up 10% in the US. New York, Jersey City and Hoboken are totally off the charts from my personal experirence.

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- If the rising cost of gas isn't incentive enough to leave the car at home, maybe the increases in parking fees will do the trick. The cost to park in most major U.S. cities increased for the third consecutive year in 2006, according to a survey released on Tuesday by real estate services firm Colliers International.

Daily parking is up 10.1% over the year, with the median cost for a space averaging $15.28 in U.S. cities, according to Colliers. The median cost for daily parking is $40 in Midtown Manhattan and $6 in Memphis, Tenn., according to the study.

I emailed the author and asked her to follow-up the story with possible ways to invest in this trend. Maybe a parking REIT? Anyone know of anything like that?mortgage calculator