May 31, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe higher fuel costs will become a severe problem, according to a poll by Ipsos-Public Affairs released by the Associated Press. 68 per cent of respondents expect increases in the price of gasoline to cause financial hardship.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe higher fuel costs will become a severe problem, according to a poll by Ipsos-Public Affairs released by the Associated Press. 68 per cent of respondents expect increases in the price of gasoline to cause financial hardship.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average cost of a gallon of fuel reached a record high on May 24 at $3.22 U.S. The average price was $2.79 U.S. in mid-April, and $2.54 U.S. in March.

When asked about their personal behaviour, 70 per cent of respondents say they have turned down the heat or air conditioning in their homes, 62 per cent have reduced their amount of driving, and 60 per cent have cut back on other expenses. More than half of respondents say the increases in energy prices have not made them seriously think about purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle, or affected their vacation plans.

On May 25, New Hampshire governor John Lynch called on federal lawmakers and the president for help, saying, "There are no significant weather events to explain the spike in gas prices. There is no significant change in international events to explain the spike in gas prices. We do know, however, that oil companies are again likely to record profits."

Polling Data

Over the next six months, do you expect that increases in the price of gasoline will cause financial hardship for you or your family, or not?

	May 2007	Aug. 2005
Will cause a financial hardship	68%	64%
Will not cause financial hardship	31%	35%
Not sure	1%	1%

As a result of recent increases in energy prices, would you say you have or have not done each of the following?

	Yes	No	Not sure
Turned down the heat or air conditioning in your home	70%	29%	1%
Reduced the amount of driving you do	62%	37%	1%
Cut back on other expenses	60%	40%	--
Thought seriously about purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle	47%	52%	1%
Changed your vacation plans to stay closer to home	42%	57%	1%

Source: Ipsos-Public Affairs / Associated Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from May 15 to May 17, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.