WSJ.com/Harris Interactive Poll Finds That Eighty Percent of U.S. Adults Have Made Changes to Their Lifestyles Due to Rising Gas Costs

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Rising gas costs continue to be a controversial issue all across the United States and the impact is felt by many adults. Eight in 10 U.S. adults say they have made changes to their lifestyles due to rising gas costs, with nearly six in 10 minimizing non-critical travel, 40 percent adjusting their spending habits and 32 percent putting a hold on leisure road-trip travel.

Females are more likely to have made changes to their lifestyle due to the rising cost of gas (84% vs. 75% for men) and are more likely to have minimized non-critical travel (61% vs. 56%) and adjusted their spending habits (44% vs. 37%). Older adults (those ages 45 to 54 and 55 and over) are more likely to minimize non-critical travel (65% and 64% respectively vs. 50% of 18 to 34).Younger respondents (ages 18 to 34) are more likely to have driven further to find cheaper gas (15% vs. 9% for 55 and over) and participated in a car pool (13% vs. 5% for 55 and over).

These are just some of the results of an online survey of 2,057 U.S. adults ages 18 and over conducted by Harris InteractiveŽ between June 19 and 21, 2007 for The Wall Street Journal Online.

Alternatives To Energy Consumption: Fuels and Hybrid Car Purchases

The vast majority of adults (94%) believe it is important to reduce the energy consumption from automobile use. Nearly eight out of 10 consider it important to encourage the development and use of alternative fuels and almost three-quarters believe it is important to increase the fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles. Women are more likely to consider it important to reduce consumption from automobile use (96% vs. 91% for men), develop communities that are more conducive to walking/biking (45% vs. 31%), encourage car pooling (47% vs. 37%) or the development/use of alternative fuels (82% vs. 75%) and increase fuel efficiency standards (76% vs. 69%).

Those ages 35 to 44 are most likely to consider it important to develop and use alternative fuels (83%), while respondents 18 to 34 are least likely (73%) to say this or even to consider it important to increase fuel efficiency standards on vehicles (69%). This could be due to a fear that the cost of automobiles will rise as the costs of conserving energy are passed on.

Among those who intend to purchase or lease a new vehicle, forty-nine percent would consider a hybrid vehicle. Respondents ages 18 to 34 who also intend to purchase/lease are significantly more likely (31%) to consider a gasoline-fueled vehicle than older respondents 45 to 54 and 55 and over (24% and 25% respectively). Respondents in the lowest income group, less than $35K, and in the highest income group, more than $75K, all of whom are planning to purchase/lease are less likely to consider a gas-fueled vehicle (21% and 25% respectively) compared to respondents who earn $35K-$49.9K (34%).

The Government’s Role

Female respondents are more likely to believe the government has a responsibility to engage in energy conservation. In particular, over nine in 10 females believe the government should encourage greater fuel efficiency (compared to 84% of males) and 83% of females believe the government should mandate higher fuel standards (compared to 75% of males).

TABLE 1A
IMPORTANT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION—BY AGE
“Among the following strategies for reducing energy consumption from automobile use in the U.S., which efforts do you consider important?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	18-34	35-44	45-54	55+
	N=2057	N=615	N=250	N=336	N=856
	%	%	%	%	%
Any (NET)	94	90	94	95	95
Encouraging the development and use of alternative fuels	79	73	83	80	80
Increasing fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles	73	69	73	69	77
Increasing the development and encouraging use of public transit	51	43	54	53	54
Enhancing tax credits or offering incentives to encourage driving more fuel-efficient cars	47	46	46	47	48
Encouraging more car pooling	42	41	40	37	46
Developing communities that are more conducive to walking and biking	38	39	43	39	35
Creating a tax on driving	5	6	5	3	5
None of these	6	10	6	5	5

TABLE 1B
IMPORTANT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION—BY GENDER
“Among the following strategies for reducing energy consumption from automobile use in the U.S., which efforts do you consider important?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	Male	Female
	N=2057	N=1010	N=1047
	%	%	%
Any (NET)	94	91	96
Encouraging the development and use of alternative fuels	79	75	82
Increasing fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles	73	69	76
Increasing the development and encouraging use of public transit	51	48	54
Enhancing tax credits or offering incentives to encourage driving more fuel-efficient cars	47	45	48
Encouraging more car pooling	42	37	47
Developing communities that are more conducive to walking and biking	38	31	45
Creating a tax on driving	5	7	3
None of these	6	9	4

TABLE 1C
IMPORTANT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION—BY EDUCATION
“Among the following strategies for reducing energy consumption from automobile use in the U.S., which efforts do you consider important?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	H.S. or Less	Some Col.	Col. Grad+
	N=2057	N=233	N=778	N=1046
	%	%	%	%
Any (NET)	94	91	95	97
Encouraging the development and use of alternative fuels	79	74	81	81
Increasing fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles	73	65	77	78
Increasing the development and encouraging use of public transit	51	37	53	65
Enhancing tax credits or offering incentives to encourage driving more fuel-efficient cars	47	38	49	56
Encouraging more car pooling	42	43	38	44
Developing communities that are more conducive to walking and biking	38	26	40	52
Creating a tax on driving	5	4	4	7
None of these	6	9	5	3

TABLE 1D
IMPORTANT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION—BY INCOME
“Among the following strategies for reducing energy consumption from automobile use in the U.S., which efforts do you consider important?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	Less Than $35K	$35K - $49.9K	$50K - $74.9K	$75K+
	N=2057	N=430	N=257	N=378	N=597
	%	%	%	%	%
Any (Net)	94	93	93	96	97
Encouraging the development and use of alternative fuels	79	79	82	81	80
Increasing fuel efficiency standards on all vehicles	73	76	68	79	71
Increasing the development and encouraging use of public transit	51	48	49	50	59
Enhancing tax credits or offering incentives to encourage driving more fuel-efficient cars	47	43	50	49	52
Encouraging more car pooling	42	47	41	35	41
Developing communities that are more conducive to walking and biking	38	39	38	40	41
Creating a tax on driving	5	3	6	1	8
None of these	6	7	7	4	3

TABLE 2
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY—BY GENDER
“Do you believe the federal government has the responsibility to...?”
Summary of Yes
Base: All Adults

	Total	Male	Female
	N=2057	N=1010	N=1047
	%	%	%
Encourage greater fuel efficiency	87	84	91
Encourage reduced energy consumption	81	80	83
Mandate higher fuel standards	79	75	83

TABLE 3A
CHANGES DUE TO RISING GAS COSTS—BY AGE
“Given rising gas costs, which of the following changes have you made?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	18-34	35-44	45-54	55+
	N=2057	N=615	N=250	N=336	N=856
	%	%	%	%	%
Made Changes Due To Rising Gas Costs (NET)	80	78	80	85	79
Minimized non-critical travel	59	50	57	65	64
Adjusted my spending habits to compensate for the increased cost of gas	40	38	51	52	32
Put a hold on leisure road-trip travel	32	30	29	36	34
Bike or walk when I can	21	26	18	24	16
Drive farther to find cheaper gas	12	15	12	11	9
Increased use of public transportation	10	10	13	12	7
Participated in a car pool	8	13	6	8	5
Exchanged my vehicle for a smaller car	6	5	5	8	6
Purchased or leased a hybrid	3	2	2	3	4
Other	6	7	6	5	6
I haven't made any changes due to rising gas costs.	20	22	20	15	21

TABLE 3B
CHANGES DUE TO RISING GAS COSTS—BY GENDER
“Given rising gas costs, which of the following changes have you made?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	Male	Female
	N=2057	N=1010	N=1047
	%	%	%
Made Changes Due To Rising Gas Costs (NET)	80	75	84
Minimized non-critical travel	59	56	61
Adjusted my spending habits to compensate for the increased cost of gas	40	37	44
Put a hold on leisure road-trip travel	32	31	33
Bike or walk when I can	21	22	20
Drive farther to find cheaper gas	12	10	14
Increased use of public transportation	10	10	9
Participated in a car pool	8	6	10
Exchanged my vehicle for a smaller car	6	7	5
Purchased or leased a hybrid	3	3	3
Other	6	5	7
I haven't made any changes due to rising gas costs.	20	25	16

TABLE 3C
CHANGES DUE TO RISING GAS COSTS—BY EDUCATION
“Given rising gas costs, which of the following changes have you made?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	H.S. or Less	Some Col.	Col. Grad+
	N=2057	N=233	N=778	N=1046
	%	%	%	%
Made Changes Due To Rising Gas Costs (NET)	80	78	81	81
Minimized non-critical travel	59	58	59	60
Adjusted my spending habits to compensate for the increased cost of gas	40	40	46	34
Put a hold on leisure road-trip travel	32	35	34	28
Bike or walk when I can	21	13	23	28
Drive farther to find cheaper gas	12	11	12	13
Increased use of public transportation	10	6	11	13
Participated in a car pool	8	9	9	6
Exchanged my vehicle for a smaller car	6	4	8	6
Purchased or leased a hybrid	3	1	4	3
Other	6	5	5	9
I haven't made any changes due to rising gas costs.	20	22	19	19

TABLE 3D
CHANGES DUE TO RISING GAS COSTS—BY INCOME
“Given rising gas costs, which of the following changes have you made?”
Base: All Adults

	Total	Less Than $35K	$35K - $49.9K	$50K - $74.9K	$75K+
	N=2057	N=430	N=257	N=378	N=597
	%	%	%	%	%
Made Changes Due To Rising Gas Costs (NET)	80	84	78	81	80
Minimized non-critical travel	59	60	61	64	57
Adjusted my spending habits to compensate for the increased cost of gas	40	46	41	44	35
Put a hold on leisure road-trip travel	32	40	32	36	26
Bike or walk when I can	21	24	18	15	21
Drive farther to find cheaper gas	12	11	13	14	11
Increased use of public transportation	10	12	7	5	11
Participated in a car pool	8	12	8	5	8
Exchanged my vehicle for a smaller car	6	6	5	6	6
Purchased or leased a hybrid	3	1	4	2	5
Other	6	6	8	6	5
I haven't made any changes due to rising gas costs.	20	16	22	19	20

TABLE 4A
PURCHASING OR LEASING CONSIDERATIONS—BY AGE
“Thinking about the next new vehicle that you might consider for purchase or lease, which of the following are you most likely to consider?”
Base: Intend to Purchase/Lease New Vehicle

	Total	18-34	35-44	45-54	55+
	N=1498	N=458	N=199	N=259	N=582
	%	%	%	%	%
Would Consider Any (Sub-Net)	98	99	99	97	98
Hybrid vehicle (e.g., vehicle that uses a combination of both a gas engine and electric motor)	49	49	53	49	49
Gasoline-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on gasoline only)	27	31	26	24	25
Ethanol-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on unleaded gasoline and ethanol fuel mixture)	12	10	9	12	14
Diesel-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on diesel fuel only)	6	5	8	7	6
Electric vehicle	4	4	4	5	4
I would not consider any of these.	2	1	1	3	2

TABLE 4B
PURCHASING OR LEASING CONSIDERATIONS—BY EDUCATION
“Thinking about the next new vehicle that you might consider for purchase or lease, which of the following are you most likely to consider?”
Base: Intend to Purchase/Lease New Vehicle

	Total	H.S. or Less	Some Col.	Col. Grad+
	N=1498	N=130	N=528	N=840
	%	%	%	%
Would Consider Any (Sub-Net)	98	98	97	99
Hybrid vehicle (e.g., vehicle that uses a combination of both a gas engine and electric motor)	49	42	43	55
Gasoline-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on gasoline only)	27	35	26	26
Ethanol-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on unleaded gasoline and ethanol fuel mixture)	12	10	17	9
Diesel-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on diesel fuel only)	6	8	7	5
Electric vehicle	4	2	4	4
I would not consider any of these.	2	2	3	1

TABLE 4C
PURCHASING OR LEASING CONSIDERATIONS—BY INCOME
“Thinking about the next new vehicle that you might consider for purchase or lease, which of the following are you most likely to consider?”
Base: Base: Intend to Purchase/Lease New Vehicle

	Total	Less Than $35K	$35K - $49.9K	$50K - $74.9K	$75K+
	N=1498	N=257	N=184	N=295	N=499
	%	%	%	%	%
Would Consider Any (Sub-Net)	98	97	98	99	99
Hybrid vehicle (e.g., vehicle that uses a combination of both a gas engine and electric motor)	49	48	46	49	53
Gasoline-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on gasoline only)	27	21	34	27	25
Ethanol-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on unleaded gasoline and ethanol fuel mixture)	12	16	12	12	10
Diesel-fueled vehicle (e.g., vehicle that runs on diesel fuel only)	6	7	3	8	6
Electric vehicle	4	5	4	3	4
I would not consider any of these.	2	3	2	1	1

Methodology

Harris Interactive^Ž conducted online within the United States between June 19 to 21, 2007 among 2,057 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,057 one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/-3 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples may be higher and may vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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