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Survey: 94% of US Consumers Have Made Lifestyle Changes Due to Gasoline Prices
30 June 2008
High gas prices have caused 94% of consumers to make lifestyle changes to keep costs down, according to a survey conducted by DMS Research and sponsored by MapQuest. Among the changes are more careful route planning (57%), walking or biking more (24%), partially filling gas tanks (31%), and making a conscious effort to drive less (82%).
In addition, 66% of consumers say that high gas prices have caused them to alter vacation plans, with 34% canceling their vacation plans altogether. Another 37% have opted to take shorter trips that are closer to home.
Other top-line survey findings include:
* More than 80% of respondents are forfeiting day-to-day activities and changing their spending habits by dining out less (62%), giving up heating and air conditioning (19%) and resorting to only paying the minimum balance on credit cards (18%). Additionally, nearly one out of ten consumers are stopping or cutting back on medications.
* More than half of consumers are unwilling to take road trips of more than 100 miles.
* Twenty-four percent of consumers are turning to the Internet to search for cheap gas prices, and more than half intend to utilize websites to determine the cost difference between driving and flying when planning their next trip. Additionally, when evaluating modes of transportation for a trip 58% of consumers are the most concerned with cost of gas vs. airplane ticket fare.
* Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed feel that the Federal government should step in and set limits on prices and 27% of consumers believe the oil companies are to blame for the continually rising gas prices.
DMS gathered data from a national sample of 1,001 Internet users (age 18+). Interviews were collected from June 5 - 11, 2008.
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