(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States hold a group of people accountable for the recent price increase in gasoline, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 61 per cent of respondents blame unethical behaviour by people involved in the production and distribution of fuel.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States hold a group of people accountable for the recent price increase in gasoline, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 61 per cent of respondents blame unethical behaviour by people involved in the production and distribution of fuel.
Conversely, only 26 per cent of respondents think the price increase is warranted due to a decrease in the supply of oil and an increase in demand for it.
On Apr. 21, the price of an oil barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange reached a record high of $75.35 U.S. Yesterday, the cost was $69.65 U.S.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average cost of a gallon of fuel reached a record high in September 2005 at $3.05 U.S. Yesterday, the average cost was $2.93 U.S. 61 per cent of respondents think gas prices in the U.S. will continue to rise over the next six months.
On Apr. 23, U.S. president George W. Bush referred to the situation, saying, “Americans understand, by and large, that the price of crude oil is going up and that the prices are going up, but what they don’t want and will not accept is manipulation of the market. And neither will I. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether price of gasoline has been unfairly manipulated in any way.”
Polling Data
Which of the following statements comes closer to your views about the reasons for the recent price increase in gasoline: It is mostly due to unethical behaviour by people involved in the production and distribution of gasoline, or It is mostly due to a decrease in the supply of oil and an increase in demand for it.
Unethical behaviour | 61% |
Supply and demand | 26% |
Neither of the above | 7% |
No opinion | 6% |
What do you think will happen to gas prices in the U.S. over the next six months — they will continue to rise, they will stabilize, or they will go back down?
Continue to rise | 61% |
Stabilize | 25% |
Go back down | 10% |
No opinion | 5% |
Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,021 American adults, conducted from May 5 to May 7, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
