Rising Energy Costs Cause Change in Consumer Behavior

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--Oct. 3, 20051, 2005--Overview of Bay State Poll Results:

Rising Energy Costs For Gas and Home Heating Are Major Concerns

         56.8% have cut back on driving due to rising gas costs
         40.0% say rising gas costs have caused financial hardship
         55.3% are concerned (somewhat/very) about paying their
               winter heating bills
               (see more below)

Approval Ratings

President Bush's approval rating in Massachusetts has fallen 11% in the last six months to an all time Bay State Poll of low of 28.4%. Governor Romney's approval rating remains at a historically low level of 42.8%

The War in Iraq

Two out of three Massachusetts residents believe that it was not worth it to go to war with Iraq. Approximately two thirds also believe that US efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq are going somewhat or very badly.

Gay Marriage

53% of Bay State residents oppose the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage, while 37% support it.

National and State Economies Not Getting Better

The percentage of respondents saying the economy had gotten better in the last year fell from 19% to 10% for the national economy and from 15% to 11% for the state's economy.

These findings come from the Bay State Poll, a quarterly survey of Massachusetts's residents, conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research at Merrimack College. Five Hundred and Three (503) randomly selected state residents over the age of eighteen were interviewed by telephone October 16-23, 2005. The survey's margin of error is +/- 4.5%. Detailed results and methodological information are available at www.merrimack.edu/polling.

Gasoline and Home Energy Costs

Have increases in the price of gas at the pump caused you to cut back
on driving?

    Yes                   57%
    No                    40%
    Don't Know             3%

Would you say that these increases in the price of gas at the pump
have caused financial hardship for you or your household?

    Yes                   40%
    No                    58%
    Don't Know             3%

In thinking about your next automobile purchase are you very likely,
somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely to seriously
consider buying a hybrid vehicle?

   Very Likely            20%
   Somewhat Likely        27%
   Somewhat Unlikely      17%
   Very Unlikely          23%
   Don't Know             12%

How concerned are you about being able to pay your home heating bills
this winter?

   Very Concerned         33%
   Somewhat Concerned     32%
   Not Very Concerned     32%
   Don't Know              3%

Which of the following are you MOST LIKELY to do to compensate for
what are expected to be significantly higher costs for heating your
home this winter?

   Lower the Thermostat                                 47%
   Increase/Improve Insulation or Heating System        10%
   Cut Back on Other Expenses to Compensate             15%
   Something Else                                        7%
   Do Nothing                                            6%
   Not Relevant (I Don't Pay for Heat)                  11%
   Do Not Expect Heating Bills to Increase               2%
   Don't Know                                            3%

Approval Ratings

Here in Massachusetts, do you approve or disapprove of the way George Bush/Mitt Romney is handling his job as President/Governor?

(Please go to www.merrimack.edu/polling for line graph illustrating latest findings.)

The War in Iraq

All in all do you think it was worth going to war with Iraq or not?

  Worth It                27%
  Not Worth It            67%
  Don't Know               5%

How would you say things are going for the US in its efforts to bring
stability and order to Iraq?

   Very Well               4%
   Somewhat Well          28%
   Somewhat Badly         36%
   Very Badly             28%
   Neither/Don't Know      3%

Gay Marriage

Do you favor or oppose the proposed amendment to the Massachusetts
Constitution that would define marriage as a union between a man and a
woman, and thus prohibit gay marriage in the Bay State?

   Favor                  37%
   Worth It               53%
   Don't Know             10%


Would you say you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose
allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?

   Strongly Favor         20%
   Favor                  33%
   Oppose                 23%
   Strongly Oppose        16%
   Don't Know              8%