Drivers to Make Behavior Changes at $4 for Gas
Gas prices are going up again.
A recent survey says folks are prepared to make money-saving changes if the prices keep rising.
Tallahassee resident Chad Bennett says, "When you pull up to the tank, you already know what you're going to have to spend."
Spend too much, most drivers say.
One woman was practically disgusted while pumping her gas, "Two gallons, $8 worth of gas, I don't agree at all."
The national price of regular gasoline has gone from $3.30 to $3.50 a gallon since last month.
Bennett says gasoline is a part of his livelihood because of his lawn care service. He says, "It takes gas to do what we do. It's really taking a toll on me. Fortunately, as a smart business person, I put my prices where it doesn't affect what I charge my customers. But, when it rises, it really affects me and my profits."
A survey from AAA Auto Club says 38 percent of people said they will make behavioral changes if gas prices hit $4 to $4.50 a gallon.
Scott Collins says he spends $300 a month on gas because he commutes from Crawfordville to Tallahassee every day.
He says, "That really bothers me coming to the pump at $4. That's when people really start having a hard time. I don't like $4. No one likes $4.
The survey says the top three things consumers have cut back on as a direct result of increased gas prices are: shopping for pleasure (47%,) dining out at restaurants (44%,) and going out for lunch during the week (35%.)
The top four things consumers do to make up for the increased expense of gasoline are: drive less (48%,) consolidate errands (44%,) budget better (35%,) and cut back on discretionary expenses (33%.)
"People will make changes, but they still will buy regardless of what the cost is." Says, Bennett.
The AAA survey says consumers are almost evenly split on who they blame for the rise in pump prices:
43% blame oil companies, 29% blame a lack of more U.S. drilling, 25% blame the Mideast, 22% blame commodity speculators, 22% blame oil cartels, and 21% blame the president.
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