What Gas Prices Have Caused Americans To Cut Back On: Harris Interactive

High gas prices might have fallen slightly in recent weeks, but that hasn't stopped Americans from cutting back on other expenses in order to afford pumping fuel into the tank.

According to a recent poll by Harris Interactive, higher gas prices have caused the majority of Americans to cut back on a range of products and services. The poll, which surveyed 2,184 adults online in mid-May, finds that 51 percent of Americans have limited spending on other items in order to pay for gas. And an even higher percentage (65 percent) of families earning an annual income of $35,000 or less have had to cut back.

Gas prices comprise a large percentage of the average Americans budget. Indeed, last month one-tenth of every dollar made by the average American household went to paying the gas bill. Before that, in April, the nationwide average monthly gas bill was $369, 45 percent more than one year prior.

Compared to results from a similar Harris Interactive poll conducted in 2006, the percentage of households making sacrifices in order to drive their cars has increased by 6 percent.

So that they can put fuel in the tank, most Americans have had to sacrifice fuel for their bodies, as groceries and dining out are the things most likely to get cut. However, less necessary items -- luxury items, shopping and movies -- are all among the least likely to be sacrificed.

Below are 13 items getting cut because of high gas prices:

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13. Fast Food/Junk Food

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Percentage of people who cut back: 3 percent

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Percentage of people who cut back: 3 percent

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Who Needs It? Can't Live Without It

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Comments

[srooge]

09:25 AM on 07/18/2011

you could drink and eat your own wastes to save money, that's a good american.

[Thecoffeedude]

09:54 AM on 07/14/2011

Governments dont produce jobs

[walkinthedogdude]

01:01 AM on 07/09/2011

If you're frugal and don't give in to your temptations easily, you can get by.

[Howard Scott Pearlman 20]

02:39 PM on 07/08/2011

Cut out all Vacations to any RED States.

Make the Republicans really suffer for this BUSH/REPUBLICAN RECESSION.

[jjtx]

11:31 AM on 07/21/2011

I wish I could but since my only vacation is a staycation, I am stuck in a red state.

Blue states just sound so wonderful right now - not only for your political climate but because most of you have a better climate - on our 20th consecutive day of 100+ here in Dallas -- and 27 days of 100+ this year including one day when it was 107 and at 10 that night it was still 97 ----------------- besides the color blue just sounds cooler

[booshh]

07:17 AM on 06/26/2011

I've cut back on toilet paper: I take a dump while in the shower and fart soap bubbles.

[birdman101a]

11:53 PM on 06/25/2011

don't you just love it.

[Kyrillos Wickenberg]

10:26 AM on 06/24/2011

I don't see any one cutting back on smoking

[Ally Johnston]

02:20 PM on 06/23/2011

Not near enough people scaling back on junk food/fast food, that percentage should be at 28%! I would say that particular cut back is a good one for American's health.

[Karenn]

02:32 PM on 06/22/2011

I have always planned my errand driving to cover everything in one trip - mainly because I live in the country. It is not good to suddenly think of something you want then hop in the car - wasteful.

[JoanMeijer]

01:05 PM on 06/22/2011

It's time for the government to wake up to the fact that unemployment, low wages and high gas prices are killing the economy and if they don't start pumping money into jobs they will all lose their jobs from the President on down.... and if the Republicans lose the house big time - at least one Supreme Court Justice will be impeached - which could change the direction of that stupid court.

[booshh]

07:19 AM on 06/26/2011

I see recreational drug use hasn't diminished.

[Thecoffeedude]

09:54 AM on 07/14/2011

How would you know

[merr7242]

12:53 AM on 07/12/2011

JoanMeijer

I agree with some of what you have said here. But, high gas prices are not manufactured by the US government. Much worse, they are set by speculators of the price of a barrel of oil: http://useconomy.about.com/od/commoditiesmarketfaq/f/oil_prices.htm It has nothing to do with our politicians! I agree whole heartedly about the Supreme Court. It is an embarrassment to the United States to have such a biased court making law. And, I hope Thomas gets the "bums rush" really soon.

[SESZOO]

10:10 AM on 06/22/2011

If they dropped the gas prices down to the $2.50 range, (which will never happen) people would start to drive more and start spending money on other things which in turn would make a need for more goods and more people to produce them ,or at least import them, we need to get people to start feeling better about themselves instead of all the doom and gloom that unemployment or under employment brings, the republicans ,democrats and the rest of the people running the show seem to be unable to come up with a solution , I don't have a solution but if someone out there does ,send it to Washington , if they keep getting as many posts as some of these articles get maybe they will come up with something, probably not but who knows, I don't

[merr7242]

12:56 AM on 07/12/2011

SESZOO

I really would like this to be true. I'm afraid it goes the same way as lower taxes on the rich producing more jobs. Not gonna happen.

[marshallwyattearp]

06:31 PM on 06/21/2011

ONE MUST ASK THEMSELF...

WHY DID OBAMA PLACE MORE REGULATIONS ON THE AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES?

IT'S AWEFULL DAMN FUNNY THAT hE'LL LEASE GOVERNMENT LAND TO FORIEGN COMPANIES, SO THEY CAN PUT THE OIL ON THE GLOBAL MARKET, KEEPING PRICES HIGH.

HE'S YOUR MAN... GONNA SAVE THE WORLD, WHILE THE US FALLS

[booshh]

07:20 AM on 06/26/2011

Jesus came to the world to save us from those who type in all caps.

He failed.

[merr7242]

01:10 AM on 07/12/2011

marshallwyattearp

Here is an interesting article that might help you. Remember, this article was written in 2008 and there is a statement there that says "No one disputes that a lot of oil lies untapped under the rocky floors of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans off the U.S. coasts, in areas where Congress has banned drilling since 1982" and if I remember correctly, that was during the Reagan years. "But is it enough to free the U.S. from its dependence on foreign suppliers"? Here is the entire article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=can-offshore-drilling-make-us-independent

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

05:31 PM on 06/20/2011

Wait untill Obama's Cap and Trade raises utility prices. You will wish your furnace ran on gasoline.

[Ally Johnston]

02:23 PM on 06/23/2011

This is my second summer leaving the central air off, when it's running my bill runs 250-300, with it off it runs 90-120. CRAZY!

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

03:23 PM on 06/23/2011

Wait untill your bills do the Obama "skyrocket ". His word , not mine.
You will pay the 250-300 again....with it off.
His estimates 60-85% , other estimates 100 -200 %.

[gts31bumbee]

02:01 PM on 06/28/2011

What really hurts is cap and trade was a republican creation about 12 years ago.... Hoe thay suckered the dems into adopting it is beyond me....

[nobodysgirl]

03:51 PM on 06/20/2011

Food. Personal items. Any enertainment. (Haven't had tv, internet at home, or a phone - land or cell - in over 5 years.)

To put it quite bluntly: workworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkwork.

And it's still not enough to pay for basics. Which is why I rage against the far right - because they rage against the working poor and middle class.
I'd like to slow down and live a little bit too, before I die.

[booshh]

07:22 AM on 06/26/2011

"Food. Personal items. Any entertainment." Are you even alive?

[merr7242]

01:12 AM on 07/12/2011

nobodysgirl

I can relate.

[kdlaiusa]

02:08 PM on 06/20/2011

Just try to cut back the driving if possible, plan trips running errands, and buy less junk that you never use.