(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States believe certain corporations are to blame for rising fuel costs, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 33 per cent of respondents believe oil companies in the U.S. are responsible for the increase in gas prices.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States believe certain corporations are to blame for rising fuel costs, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 33 per cent of respondents believe oil companies in the U.S. are responsible for the increase in gas prices.
U.S. president George W. Bush and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producing nations are next on the list with 18 per cent, followed by Hurricane Katrina with 16 per cent, increasing demand in world markets with 12 per cent, and the U.S. Congress with two per cent.
Hurricane Katrina hit the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Aug. 29. Two days later, Bush outlined specific measures, declaring, “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a nationwide waiver for fuel blends to make more gasoline and diesel fuel available throughout the country. This will help take some pressure off of gas price. But our citizens must understand this storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline.”
On Sept. 21, the federal government reported that 73.2 per cent of the Gulf Coast’s oil production has been shut down due to damage related to Hurricane Katrina and evacuations connected to Hurricane Rita, which is expected to hit Texas this weekend. The region supplies almost a third of the oil consumed in the U.S.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average cost of a gallon of fuel reached a record high earlier this month at $3.05 U.S.—up from $2.11 U.S. in the last weekend of May—but has dropped to $2.75 U.S.
Polling Data
One thing we have seen in the recent days is a rise in gas prices. Who or what do you hold responsible for this increase in gas prices?
U.S. Oil Companies | 33% |
President George W. Bush | 18% |
OPEC / Oil producing countries | 18% |
Hurricane Katrina | 16% |
Increasing demand in world markets | 12% |
Congress | 2% |
Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,442 American adults, conducted from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
