PriceRunner Survey Highlights – Gas Prices:

Amplitude Research® conducted this study over a 4-day period from April 6th to April 9th, 2007 among a nationwide web panel. There were 1,000 survey respondents, resulting in a +/- 3.1% maximum sampling margin of error at the 95% confidence level. In this case, the word “maximum” refers to the margin of error being highest for proportions from the survey near 50%,

while declining as percentages get further from 50%. For example, the sampling margin of error for a result from the survey near 10% or 90% would be +/- 1.9%. The +/- 3.1% margin of error applies to results from the survey near 50%.

The results showed the following:

  • Given recent fluctuations in gas prices, many reported changes in their behavior during the past year, such as reducing general driving when possible (55%), reducing spending on luxury items (39%), reducing spending on regular items or even groceries (22%), and making more purchases online instead of driving to the store (22%).

 

At any time during the past 12 months, have higher gas prices caused you to:

 

Legend

Response Choice

Frequencies

Count

1

Cancel some or all of your vacation plans

  10.1%

101

2

Change vacation plans - chose closer destination(s)

  12.8%

128

3

Change vacation plans - fly instead of drive

  5.3%

53

4

Reduce spending on unnecessary / luxury items

  38.7%

387

5

Reduce spending on regular items, groceries, etc.

  22.2%

222

6

Reduce general driving if / when possible

  55.1%

551

7

Put less money in investments

  9.6%

96

8

Increase debt

  16.1%

161

9

Make more purchases online instead of driving to the store

  21.8%

218

10

Nothing / no significant changes / I don't drive very much

  27.5%

275

11

Other*

  2.3%

23

 

Total (N)

 

1000

 

* No significant changes, but I do drive a lot!; Don't really pay attention I cannot change it; DRIVE THE OTHER MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CAR WE OWN; bought a 85mpg 150cc scooter; Not been able to plan vacations; walk to the store; I'm paid to drive at work, I don't worry about gas; make trips all inclusive. Make a list and do it all; no change from normal routine; no car; comparison shop/charging gas instead of cash; None of the above; I ride a motorcycle; My mileage is about 38-48 mpg; Just does not affect us due to adequate money.; Move from Driving Car to Riding Motorcycle / Bike; Use public transport NJT Buses, Trains, Amtrak; Company buys all gas purchased; try to ride with my mother or make 1 trip a week.; don’t have gas; Shop close to home; reduce number of stops; Be more careful in seeking out lowest prices; visit friends less.

 

It is worth keeping in mind that these results are based on a nationwide web panel, meaning that the study findings can be thought of as applying to regular Internet users. The results above, though, are still noteworthy because people can use the Internet in many different ways, which may or may not include shopping.

Cross Tabulation of Data for Gender, Age and Political Preference:

At any time during the past 12 months, have higher gas prices caused you to:

 

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

What is your total annual household income before taxes?

High school or less

Some college or Associate degree

4 year college degree / Bachelor's

Graduate degree / Master's / PhD

Under $35,000

$35,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 or more

Cancel some or all of your vacation plans

18

46

26

10

32

24

30

10

4

Change vacation plans - chose closer destination(s)

23

50

37

18

29

26

41

17

11

Change vacation plans - fly instead of drive

5

22

16

10

5

9

14

13

8

Reduce spending on unnecessary / luxury items

71

177

107

30

94

95

104

56

27

Reduce spending on regular items, groceries, etc.

54

102

50

16

57

63

57

24

15

Reduce general driving if / when possible

105

246

151

48

121

128

159

84

42

Put less money in investments

21

41

23

10

16

29

23

11

13

Increase debt

32

77

39

12

34

50

39

21

14

Make more purchases online instead of driving to the store

35

100

58

24

44

38

58

43

29

Nothing / no significant changes / I don't drive very much

53

104

86

30

50

52

72

42

47

Other

4

9

5

5

4

4

6

2

5

 

At any time during the past 12 months, have higher gas prices caused you to:

 

Please indicate your gender:

Which of the following categories includes your age?

Which of the following best represents your political preference?

Female

Male

Under 35

35 - 49

50 - 64

65 or older

Democrat

Republican

Neither / Independent

Cancel some or all of your vacation plans

48

53

44

35

20

2

35

25

33

Change vacation plans - chose closer destination(s)

71

57

54

51

23

0

44

30

40

Change vacation plans - fly instead of drive

24

29

27

18

8

0

23

9

11

Reduce spending on unnecessary / luxury items

218

169

182

129

69

7

126

104

105

Reduce spending on regular items, groceries, etc.

130

92

107

78

33

4

74

56

65

Reduce general driving if / when possible

300

251

225

197

111

18

186

158

140

Put less money in investments

48

48

42

35

19

0

31

26

25

Increase debt

91

70

72

60

27

2

48

41

44

Make more purchases online instead of driving to the store

123

95

79

81

53

5

81

62

52