June 15, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in the United States believe oil companies are responsible for a constant hike in gasoline prices, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 38 per cent of respondents blame the domestic oil industry's greed for rising costs.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in the United States believe oil companies are responsible for a constant hike in gasoline prices, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 38 per cent of respondents blame the domestic oil industry's greed for rising costs.

The government of U.S. president George W. Bush is next on the list with 21 per cent, followed by market forces with 12 per cent, oil exporting countries with 10 per cent, and environmental regulations with five per cent.

The national average price for regular gasoline reached $3.23 U.S. a gallon in May, according to the American Automobile Association. The average price was $2.79 U.S. in mid-April and $2.54 U.S. in March.

Yesterday, the Ford Motor Company announced the release of a new line of hybrid vehicles capable of running on E85, a domestically produced renewable fuel. Ford senior vice-president Sue Cischke expressed satisfaction with the new cars, declaring, "As a leader in both hybrid vehicles and in vehicles capable of operating on ethanol-based fuels, Ford is the ideal company to bring both technologies together for the first time."

Democratic Michigan senator Carl Levin referred to the release in his home state, saying, "Investing in ethanol is critical for our national security, our environment, and for Michigan's economy."

Polling Data

As you may know, gas prices have been rising over the last year and the average price of regular gas for your car is about $3.50 a gallon in some areas. Who or what do you think is the main reason for the higher gasoline prices these days: Is it the Bush administration, or the oil exporting countries, or the U.S. oil industry, or supply and demand, or environmental regulations, or is there another reason for the higher gasoline prices?

U.S. oil industry (gouging, greed, profits)	38%
Bush administration	21%
Supply and Demand (market forces)	12%
Oil exporting countries	10%
Environmental regulations	5%
Other	2%
No one / No one thing in particular	1%
All	7%
Don't know	4%

Source: Bloomberg / Los Angeles Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,183 American adults, conducted from Jun. 7 to Jun. 10, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.