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 Interactive� 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^� 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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About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiaries Novatris in France and MediaTransfer AG in Germany, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

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