Gas prices are up, and so are travelers' worries
— -- Just as many people have started eyeing their atlases, gas prices have again started soaring.
On May 28, a gallon of regular gas cost an average of $2.45, according to AAA's fuel price report, a 40-cent jump in one month. Now a new survey says that consumers are worrying more about their potential gasoline bills than their hotel tabs as they plan their summer road trips.
The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Petrofix, an online service that lets consumers and small businesses hedge gas prices. Harris polled 2,065 adults between May 11 and May 13.
According to the poll, 35% of respondents who are going on a road trip this summer cited gas as the most important thing to budget or save for, vs. the 33% who cited accommodations as worry No.1.
Among the poll's other findings:
• 68% of all adult respondents plan to take a road trip this summer; among married adults with kids under 17, 82% said they're planning a summer road trip.
• 92% of adults who are taking a road trip this summer say that it is at least somewhat important for them to find the lowest-priced gas; 67% said it was important or very important.
• Of 93% of adults who spend money on gas, 82% said if gas prices rise over the next 12 months, they will take steps to control their gas spending.
Of course, not everyone's concerned. Michelle Abril of Flushing, N.Y., says she and her friends plan to split gas costs wherever they wind up driving this summer — whether it's the Hamptons about three hours away or Washington, D.C., about four hours away.
And if travelers are too upset about the recent jump at the pump, they can get instant relief by looking at last year's average price: $3.94 a gallon.
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