High gas prices could spur car sales

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PRINCETON, N.J., May 24 (UPI) -- One third of U.S. consumers say they would buy a more fuel-efficient car if gas prices remain high, a Gallup poll indicates.

Gallup asked 1,024 adults what changes they would make if gasoline prices rose, but stayed under the $5 per gallon mark.

Seventy percent of the respondents indicated they would not move and almost as many indicated they would not change jobs or stop working, Gallup said.

Income was a significant factor among those who indicated they would start using public transportation. Among those earning $30,000 per year or less, 32 percent indicated they would use mass transit if high gas prices persisted, while 11 percent of those earning $75,000 or more indicated the same, Gallup said.

Similarly, high wage earners are twice as likely as low wage earners to indicate they would purchase an electric car.

In the May 12-15 survey, which included a margin of error of plus and minus 4 percentage points, 47 percent of respondents indicated gasoline prices were already causing "severe" financial difficulties.