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Fact #457: February 19, 2007
Long Lines to Buy Gasoline are a Top Concern

More than half (52%) of the respondents to a poll conducted in August 2006 indicated that they would worry more about waiting in long lines to buy gasoline than having the price of readily available gasoline rise significantly. Thirty-seven percent of respondents indicated that a significant rise in price would be a greater concern.

Question: Which would worry you more – if gas prices rose significantly but you could buy gas whenever you wanted to without waiting in long lines, or if gas prices remained steady but you had to wait in long lines to buy gas or could only buy it on certain days?
Graph showing the response to a poll (Aug. 2006) asking whether consumers would be more worried about waiting in long lines for gasoline or paying higher prices. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

Which would worry you more – if gas prices rose significantly but you could buy gas whenever you wanted to without waiting in long lines, or if gas prices remained steady but you had to wait in long lines to buy gas or could only buy it on certain days?
  Share of Respondents
High prices 37%
Long lines 52%
Both/neither 9%
Unsure 2%

Source: CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, August 2-3, 2006, N=1,047.

 

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