Consumer attitudes and approaches to gasoline conservation

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Surv. Bus.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7145965

Barnaby, D J; Reizenstein, R C

Recent Survey of Business articles have explored the results of a study of potential gasoline price increases and their possible effects on consumption in the Southeast. These data, derived from a mail survey of consumers in three cities (Charlotte, N.C.; Chattanooga, TN; and Columbus, GA), indicated how much respondents would reduce weekly gasoline consumption in gallons for hypothesized five cent per gallon increases in the price of gasoline. Results indicate that a minimum of 35 percent of the sample would reduce gasoline consumption by at least one gallon per week, given a 15 cents per gallon price increase, with 9 percent stating that they would reduce usage by over seven gallons per week. Further price hikes produced additional projected reduction, and 48 percent of the respondents indicated that they would reduce consumption by at least the gallon per week benchmark (18 percent would cut back by 1 to 6 gallons per week, 30 percent by 7 to 12 gallons). A substantial segment, 52 percent, proved totally price inelastic, being unwilling to cut consumption for any of the proposed price increase choices offered. It must be emphasized that the three gasoline conservation groups do not remain static for all hypothesized price increases. There is, for example, considerable flow from the 1 to 6 gallon per week conservation group to the 7 to 12 gallon per week conservation group, as projected prices at the pump rise.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
• OSTI ID: 7145965
• Journal Information: Surv. Bus.; (United States), Journal Name: Surv. Bus.; (United States) Vol. 12:1; ISSN SUBUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020700 -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
CHARGES
CONSUMPTION RATES
ECONOMIC ELASTICITY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FUELS
GASOLINE
GEORGIA
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SOUTHEAST REGION
TENNESSEE
USA