Ninety percent of Americans are countering high fuel costs by changing their habits, including driving less, vacationing closer to home or browsing hybrid vehicles, a Canadian bank study said Monday.
The RBC Capital Markets survey found that 76 percent of Americans are driving less in response to soaring energy prices, 19 percent are taking the bus or subway more often, and 11 percent are carpooling.
Four out of 10 workers said they have considered moving closer to their place of work to save on commuter costs, while a whopping 82 percent said they would consider buying a hybrid when they purchase their next vehicle.
Americans who earn more than 100,000 dollars per year say they are feeling the pinch too, with 48 percent dining out less often and 21 percent saving less for retirement.
When pressed about vacation plans, half of those polled said they are either staying locally or are not vacationing at all.
"The issues Americans are facing as a result of the current energy crisis have prompted not only a change in their attitudes, but also changes in their actual behavior as they try to manage the impact on their daily lives," said Kurt Hallead, director of energy research for RBC Capital Markets.
The national survey of 1,007 US respondents May 17 to 23 has a two percent margin of error.
© 2008 AFP
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