Survey: Gas Prices Force Consumer Change
Pain at the pump: A new survey of some 43,000 consumers shows that rising gasoline prices are beginning to modify the way people work and travel.
The study, which was conducted by the New York-based NPD Group, reveals that consumers are making two kinds of changes. The first — and most common — variety are temporary in nature, and could be easily reversed if gasoline prices were to decline. This tier of belt tightening included such actions as modifying vacation plans, carpooling, and resorting to public transportation.
But a second group indicates drivers believe higher energy prices are likely to remain for the long haul. They include big ticket purchases, such as more fuel efficient vehicles, and a measurable uptick in telecommuting or working from home.
Buying a more efficient auto or selling a larger one, moving closer to work, and perhaps telecommuting are the kind of systematic changes which likely reflect a permanent values shift on behalf of the survey group. Depending on how you tally the results, between 17 and 23 percent of the study panel have made lasting changes in view of higher fuel prices.
This is a considerable percentage, particularly when the relatively short duration of the current fuel pinch is taken into consideration. Last December, average U.S. gasoline prices were just under three dollars per gallon. For a one dollar premium over a six month period, 17 percent represents something of a sea change.
We at GM don’t think this is a spike or a temporary shift. We believe that it is, by and large, permanent.
– General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner on new consumer attitudes
The NPD Group, founded in 1967, is a global provider of consumer and retail market research information for a wide range of industries.
More Reading:
NPD Finds Consumers Making Long-Term Changes (NPD Group)
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Comment by Christian on 10 June 2008:
People need to stop taking their cars for granted. I for one am a fan of the rising petrol prices and I dont want them to drop. This is because people have always used their cars as though they made no environmental impact at all. I have sold my pride and joy (a 97 R33 GTR for you car guys) because of many reasons but a contributing reason was its lack of efficiency (300 k's from 65L which is ~ 200mi from 17g). I have bought a motorbike for commuting some days and I work from home and get the bus the other days. This is a permanent change in developed countries' behaviour.
Comment by Christian on 10 June 2008:
People need to stop taking their cars for granted. I for one am a fan of the rising petrol prices and I dont want them to drop. This is because people have always used their cars as though they made no environmental impact at all. I have sold my pride and joy (a 97 R33 GTR for you car guys) because of many reasons but a contributing reason was its lack of efficiency (300 k's from 65L which is ~ 200mi from 17g). I have bought a motorbike for commuting some days and I work from home and get the bus the other days. This is a permanent change in developed countries' behaviour.
Comment by Christian on 10 June 2008:
People need to stop taking their cars for granted. I for one am a fan of the rising petrol prices and I dont want them to drop. This is because people have always used their cars as though they made no environmental impact at all. I have sold my pride and joy (a 97 R33 GTR for you car guys) because of many reasons but a contributing reason was its lack of efficiency (300 k's from 65L which is ~ 200mi from 17g). I have bought a motorbike for commuting some days and I work from home and get the bus the other days. This is a permanent change in developed countries' behaviour.
Comment by Christian on 10 June 2008:
People need to stop taking their cars for granted. I for one am a fan of the rising petrol prices and I dont want them to drop. This is because people have always used their cars as though they made no environmental impact at all. I have sold my pride and joy (a 97 R33 GTR for you car guys) because of many reasons but a contributing reason was its lack of efficiency (300 k's from 65L which is ~ 200mi from 17g). I have bought a motorbike for commuting some days and I work from home and get the bus the other days. This is a permanent change in developed countries' behaviour.
Comment by BGreen on 10 June 2008:
People in many urban environments have transportation choice. In rural America, many people have no choice in how to get to work other than driving long distances. This is where telecommuting is a best option, having long term positive results on many levels. Employers may have to consider this to keep employees…
Comment by BGreen on 10 June 2008:
People in many urban environments have transportation choice. In rural America, many people have no choice in how to get to work other than driving long distances. This is where telecommuting is a best option, having long term positive results on many levels. Employers may have to consider this to keep employees…
Comment by BGreen on 10 June 2008:
People in many urban environments have transportation choice. In rural America, many people have no choice in how to get to work other than driving long distances. This is where telecommuting is a best option, having long term positive results on many levels. Employers may have to consider this to keep employees…
Comment by BGreen on 10 June 2008:
People in many urban environments have transportation choice. In rural America, many people have no choice in how to get to work other than driving long distances. This is where telecommuting is a best option, having long term positive results on many levels. Employers may have to consider this to keep employees…
Comment by You're Lame on 10 June 2008:
BOOOOOO! You shoulda kept your R33, man. What a car.
Comment by You're Lame on 10 June 2008:
BOOOOOO! You shoulda kept your R33, man. What a car.
Comment by You're Lame on 10 June 2008:
BOOOOOO! You shoulda kept your R33, man. What a car.
Comment by You're Lame on 10 June 2008:
BOOOOOO! You shoulda kept your R33, man. What a car.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 10 June 2008:
I'm fortunate to be ten steps away from my office, and I'm doing more and more of my errands by bicycle these days. But I'm lucky — it fits my job and lifestyle. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 10 June 2008:
I'm fortunate to be ten steps away from my office, and I'm doing more and more of my errands by bicycle these days. But I'm lucky — it fits my job and lifestyle. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 10 June 2008:
I'm fortunate to be ten steps away from my office, and I'm doing more and more of my errands by bicycle these days. But I'm lucky — it fits my job and lifestyle. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 10 June 2008:
I'm fortunate to be ten steps away from my office, and I'm doing more and more of my errands by bicycle these days. But I'm lucky — it fits my job and lifestyle. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead.
Comment by Jennifer on 10 June 2008:
It's true. Half of my yoga class tonight either rode a bike or walked. The affordable EVs can't come out soon enough for me. I just $4.69 for plus unleaded and $5.09 for diesel 2.
Comment by Jennifer on 10 June 2008:
It's true. Half of my yoga class tonight either rode a bike or walked. The affordable EVs can't come out soon enough for me. I just $4.69 for plus unleaded and $5.09 for diesel 2.
Comment by Jennifer on 10 June 2008:
It's true. Half of my yoga class tonight either rode a bike or walked. The affordable EVs can't come out soon enough for me. I just $4.69 for plus unleaded and $5.09 for diesel 2.
Comment by Jennifer on 10 June 2008:
It's true. Half of my yoga class tonight either rode a bike or walked. The affordable EVs can't come out soon enough for me. I just $4.69 for plus unleaded and $5.09 for diesel 2.
Comment by bitterend on 10 June 2008:
Few weeks ago I was wondering where all the extra money is coming from. Then I remembered I gor rid of the car over a year ago.
Luckily I live in an area where the life without a car is possible. Commute traffic works. All my basic needs are ten minutes walk away. And the bus terminal in downtown has few good beerhouses.
Comment by bitterend on 10 June 2008:
Few weeks ago I was wondering where all the extra money is coming from. Then I remembered I gor rid of the car over a year ago.
Luckily I live in an area where the life without a car is possible. Commute traffic works. All my basic needs are ten minutes walk away. And the bus terminal in downtown has few good beerhouses.
Comment by bitterend on 10 June 2008:
Few weeks ago I was wondering where all the extra money is coming from. Then I remembered I gor rid of the car over a year ago.
Luckily I live in an area where the life without a car is possible. Commute traffic works. All my basic needs are ten minutes walk away. And the bus terminal in downtown has few good beerhouses.
Comment by bitterend on 10 June 2008:
Few weeks ago I was wondering where all the extra money is coming from. Then I remembered I gor rid of the car over a year ago.
Luckily I live in an area where the life without a car is possible. Commute traffic works. All my basic needs are ten minutes walk away. And the bus terminal in downtown has few good beerhouses.
Comment by carltonreid on 11 June 2008:
Economics may get (some) people on bikes. But I'd not want to see bicycles touted as 'poor man's transport'. Bad image. In cities, cycling is faster, plain and simple.
Comment by carltonreid on 11 June 2008:
Economics may get (some) people on bikes. But I'd not want to see bicycles touted as 'poor man's transport'. Bad image. In cities, cycling is faster, plain and simple.
Comment by carltonreid on 11 June 2008:
Economics may get (some) people on bikes. But I'd not want to see bicycles touted as 'poor man's transport'. Bad image. In cities, cycling is faster, plain and simple.
Comment by carltonreid on 11 June 2008:
Economics may get (some) people on bikes. But I'd not want to see bicycles touted as 'poor man's transport'. Bad image. In cities, cycling is faster, plain and simple.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 11 June 2008:
Economics will get a lot of people on bikes. I'm already hearing total non-cyclists talking about it, and my local shop is slammed with dusty fix-er-uppers dragged out of garages. But I agree: bikes are *not* second rate transportation. I live in a small city, but when I'm in a dense area — downtown, for instance — i move a lot faster than cars. It's not even close. Nor do I pay for parking. Bicycles rule.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 11 June 2008:
Economics will get a lot of people on bikes. I'm already hearing total non-cyclists talking about it, and my local shop is slammed with dusty fix-er-uppers dragged out of garages. But I agree: bikes are *not* second rate transportation. I live in a small city, but when I'm in a dense area — downtown, for instance — i move a lot faster than cars. It's not even close. Nor do I pay for parking. Bicycles rule.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 11 June 2008:
Economics will get a lot of people on bikes. I'm already hearing total non-cyclists talking about it, and my local shop is slammed with dusty fix-er-uppers dragged out of garages. But I agree: bikes are *not* second rate transportation. I live in a small city, but when I'm in a dense area — downtown, for instance — i move a lot faster than cars. It's not even close. Nor do I pay for parking. Bicycles rule.
Comment by chrisbaskind on 11 June 2008:
Economics will get a lot of people on bikes. I'm already hearing total non-cyclists talking about it, and my local shop is slammed with dusty fix-er-uppers dragged out of garages. But I agree: bikes are *not* second rate transportation. I live in a small city, but when I'm in a dense area — downtown, for instance — i move a lot faster than cars. It's not even close. Nor do I pay for parking. Bicycles rule.
Comment by bitter end on 11 June 2008:
Actually in some cities old fixed bicycles are cool thing to own amongst young adults. Those things were made to last. And parking fees, oh dear.
Comment by bitter end on 11 June 2008:
Actually in some cities old fixed bicycles are cool thing to own amongst young adults. Those things were made to last. And parking fees, oh dear.
Comment by bitter end on 11 June 2008:
Actually in some cities old fixed bicycles are cool thing to own amongst young adults. Those things were made to last. And parking fees, oh dear.
Comment by bitter end on 11 June 2008:
Actually in some cities old fixed bicycles are cool thing to own amongst young adults. Those things were made to last. And parking fees, oh dear.
Pingback by Quickrelease.tv » Blog Archive » Let’s coin a new word meaning ‘cheaper, but superior’ on 12 June 2008:
[...] and with music on tap, but is it ever described as fun? Over on the influential green blog EcoTech Daily, owner Chris Baskind responds to my comment that cycling should not be portrayed as ‘poor man’s [...]
Pingback by Victoria Everman :: Sustainable, Creative, Enlightened Living :: San Francisco » Blog Archive » Carnival of the Green #132 on 16 June 2008:
[...] from EcoTech Daily says, according to a Survey: Gas Prices Force Consumer Change - prices are finally beginning to modify the way people work and [...]
Comment by Trevor on 12 January 2009:
Great article.
Though energy prices are temporarily down, don't get to comfortable with it. Gas prices will go up; they always do. Check this out: http://www.financialnut.com/gas_going_up_agai/
Comment by Trevor on 12 January 2009:
Great article.
Though energy prices are temporarily down, don't get to comfortable with it. Gas prices will go up; they always do. Check this out: http://www.financialnut.com/gas_going_up_agai/
Comment by NLP DEVON on 3 April 2009:
I am so glad that the Democratic party is for the people. I've heard that all my life. Dumbest thing I've ever heard. TXU power is busy replacing meters. Said that meter will check in your house and see what needs to be done for you to save money. They won't have to come into your yard anymore to read the meter. Sounded like they'll just be doing away with the meter readers to me. That new meter will be charged to you at a little over $2.00 a month and I'm sure the meter readers will lose their jobs.