(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Americans are divided over who is responsible for rising gas prices, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 32 per cent of respondents say the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producing nations are mainly to blame, while 31 per cent think oil companies are liable.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average cost of a gallon of fuel in April was $2.22 U.S. In each of the country's 50 states, the price of gasoline was higher than $2.00 U.S. The national average was $2.11 for the last weekend of May.

On Apr. 20, U.S. president George W. Bush declared, "I wish I could simply wave a magic wand and lower gas prices tomorrow; I'd do that. Unfortunately, higher gas prices are a problem that has been years in the making." 27 per cent of respondents blame the government for price increases, while one per cent say automotive manufacturers are liable.

Eleven oil producing countries—Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela—are part of OPEC.

On May 25, Bush promoted his domestic energy policies, saying, "We're too dependent on foreign sources of energy today, and one way to diversify away from hydrocarbons is to use hydrogen, the by-product of which will be water and not exhausts which pollute the air." 76 per cent of respondents believe American car manufacturers are not moving quickly to build automobiles that consume less gasoline.

Polling Data

Who do you think is mainly to blame for the increase in fuel prices?

Do you think that American automobile companies are moving as quickly as they should to build automobiles that consume less gasoline?

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