(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States hold unfavourable views on one of their country's business sectors, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 62 per cent of respondents have a negative opinion of the oil and gas industry, up 19 points in two years.

The price of an oil barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange is nearing $70 U.S., and has increased by almost 50 per cent in the past 12 months.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average cost of a gallon of fuel in mid-August was $2.60 U.S., up from $2.11 U.S. in the last weekend of May.

The Senate Energy Committee has scheduled a hearing on rising fuel costs for Sept. 8. Republican New Mexico senator Pete Domenici—the panel chairman—said the gasoline prices "are taking a severe toll on Americans' pocketbooks—consumers are anxious."

In April, 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."

Polling Data

On another subject, for each of the following business sectors in the United States, please say whether your overall view of it is very positive, neutral, or negative. How about the oil and gas industry?

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.