Hybrid Car Review

A large majority (74%) of consumers say carmakers are not moving fast enough to build more fuel efficient cars according to a new Harris poll. In the meantime, 44% of those surveyed say they are cutting back on products or services in order to pay for the increase in the price of gasoline.

And they are blaming the oil and gas companies for the rise in prices, too. Thirty-nine percent blame the oil and gas companies for wanting more profits, while only twenty-seven percent blame world crude oil prices.

As for who can stop the rise in prices, thirty four percent think the oil and gas industry can do so, while twenty-nine percent believe the federal government has that ability. Twenty-two percent say consumers can can stop the increases.

And consumers are pessimistic about increases. Eighty-one percent believe heating prices will be higher this winter when compared to last winter, while seventy-five percent believe gas prices on Labor Day in September will be higher than they are now.

In the meantime, consumers are cutting back on other spending. Twenty-nine percent are cutting back on dining out and are reducing driving or staying home more. Twenty-four percent are cutting back on groceries, while eighteen percent are spending less on entertainment.

Harris interviewd 2,085 adults ages 18 and older in the US between May 9 and 16, 2006. I first spotted this poll over at green car congress.