High Gas Prices Are Changing Consumers' Shopping Habits
An ACNielsen study shows that high gasoline prices are forcing consumers to alter their shopping ways.
In a survey of 37,000 people conducted in June and July, 61 percent of shoppers said they were trying to combine their errands and shopping trips, 31 percent were eating out less, 30 percent were doing more things at home, 26 percent were spending less to a small degree in some areas, 22 percent were shopping at more super centers for one-stop shopping, 17 percent were buying cheaper brands at the grocery stores, and 5 percent were doing more shopping on the Internet.
Since the survey was done, gasoline prices have climbed about 15 to 20 percent. “With the added economic uncertainty created by the disaster in New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast, you can be sure that there are even more people now looking for ways to conserve fuel and reduce overall spending,” said Todd Hale, ACNielsen vice president of consumer insights, in a statement. —Deborah Belgum
