TallahasseeVoicesGas Prices ‘05 Survey

September

Kerr & Downs Research

Gas Prices in Leon County

• ¾ of local residents think gas prices are too high

• Price gouging by major oil companies is the number one culprit with Hurricane Katrina running second

• 43% blame President Bush for high gas prices

Reactions to High Gas Prices

• Local residents are thinking before getting in their vehicles these days - 4 out of 5 take fewer auto trips because of high gas prices

• We haven’t been persuaded to car pool - only 1 in 6 car pools more often

• Some of us are starting to sacrifice - 1 in 10 gave up their Labor Day vacation because of high gas prices

• We’re keeping are eyes open - 1 in 7 are looking for more fuel efficient vehicle

Reactions to High Gas Prices

• No one is staying home – not a single person has decided to stay home because of higher gas prices

• TalTran is not benefiting – only 2% take TalTran more often

• Pay me now, or pay me later – 1 in 8 switched to a lower gas grade opening up the possibility of engine problems later on

Expectations

• There’s no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow – 1 in 4 never expect prices to fall– 1 in 5 believe prices will not fall unless we

change our reliance on imported oil

• It’s not the war, stupid – only 5% believe gas prices will return to normal if the US gets out of Iraq

What’s Too Expensive?

• 7 out of 10 believe gas is already too expensive at $2.75/gallon

• 1 in 10 believes that gas is not too expensive until it hits $5/gallon

In your opinion, are gasoline prices too low, about right, or too high?

2%

78%

13%

6%

2%

76%

14%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not sure

Too high

About right

Too low

2005 n=869 2004 n=470

Why do you think gasoline prices are high?

Top Responses

71%

58%

43%

41%

38%

37%

37%

24%

21%

17%

64%

43%

47%

61%

20%

33%

16%

21%

22%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Major oil companies are gouging the public

Hurricane Katrina

President Bush

Iraq war

OPEC countries are holding down supply

Gasoline service stations are gouging the public

SUVs and fuel inefficiencient cars

Unavailability of mass transit opportunities

Reluctance to use mass transit

Tourist taxes/other taxes 2005 n=682 2004 n=350

13%

11%

10%

4%

3%

2%

1%

1%

3%

18%

19%

13%

2%

5%

1%

2%

1%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Improving Economy - demand up

Terrorism

Oil companies overestimated their reserve

World demand

Lack of refineries

Government's fault

Environmental regulations

Don't know

Other 2005 n=682 2004 n=350

Why do you think gasoline prices are high?

Other Responses

78%

28%

26%

24%

24%

17%

17%

14%

13%

11%

11%

61%

21%

25%

35%

7%

8%

8%

7%

12%

10%

7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Take fewer unnecessary trips

Drive the family car that is more fuel-efficient

Get less than a full tank

Drive to Georgia to buy gas

Canceled my Labor Day trip

Boycott certain oil/gas companies

Car pool more often

Started looking for a more fuel-efficient car

Drive to other counties to buy gas

Decided not to drive as far on Labor Day trip

Walk more often 2005 n=682 2004 n=349

Reaction to High Gas Prices

Top Responses

9%

4%

4%

3%

3%

2%

1%

0%

2%

13%

8%

3%

5%

0%

2%

3%

5%

0%

3%

1%

1%

1%

1%

8%

4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Don't buy gas from companies of OPEC

Decided to fly or take a bus on Labor Day trip

Traded in for a more fuel-efficient vehicle

Ride bicycle more often

Fly more often rather than drive for out

Take TalTran more often

Buy from cheapest gas station

Stay home/don't travel

Drove more efficiently

Card that gives money back for gas purchases

Switched to a lower grade of gas

Did nothing different

Other 2005 n=682 2004 n=349

Reaction to High Gas Prices

Other Responses

Expect Gas Prices to Drop*

*When do you expect gasoline prices to come down significantly. Say by 15 to 20 cents per gallon?

**The 2004 survey was administered in May 2004, and the 2005 survey was administered in Sept. 2005. This will account for some of the differences in response options.

25%

21%

19%

10%

5%

5%

12%

3%

30%

13%

2%

16%

8%

6%

1%

1%

21%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

At the end of summer**

NeverWhen we rely less on imported oil and more on domestic

and renewable resources**Within 1 or 2 months

After the presidential election**

At the end of winter**

When the US gets totally out of Iraq

Prior to the elections**After the clean up efforts from Hurricane Katrina have

been concluded**When government control of Iraq is given to the Iraqis**

When consumers stop using as much**

Don't Know

Other 2005 n=869 2004 n=348

At what price per gallon do you feel that gas is “too expensive”?

1%

2%4%

6%

23%

9%

15%

8%9%

2%

4%

1%5%

0%

1%

0%4%

0%

0%

3%3%

1%

2%4%

7%

2%71%

14%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

$1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $1.90 $2.00 $2.10 $2.25 $2.50 $2.75 $3.00 $3.25 $3.50 $3.75 $4.00 $4.25 $4.50 $4.75 $5.00 $5.25 $5.50 $6.00 Other

2005 n=864 2004 n=116

74%

13%

13%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

87 octane (Regular)

89 octane (Mid-grade)

92 or 93 octane(Premium)

n=867

What grade of gas do you normally purchase for your vehicle?

13%

87%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Yes

No

n=864

Have you changed the grade of gas due to the price of gas?