Polls & Research
Archive Search
Americans Expect Trouble with Gas Prices
(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 | 70% | 29% | 1% |
Reduced the amount of driving you do | 62% | 37% | 1% |
Cut back on other expenses | 60% | 40% | -- |
Thought seriously about purchasing | 47% | 52% | 1% |
Changed your vacation plans | 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.