Survey to Show Most Americans Think They Are Getting Gouged at the Gas Pump, Will Cut Summer Travel, Spending Plans If Prices Keep Rising

Civil Society Institute/40MPG Survey Also to Show Most Americans Want Higher Federal Fuel-Efficiency Standard Now, Are More Inclined to Buy a Hybrid

Most Americans think they are being gouged at the gas pump and say that will cut back on their summer travel plans and general spending if fuel prices continue to climb to $3.50 a gallon or even higher, according to a major new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) survey conducted for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI) think tank and its 40MPG.org project. The CSI/40MPG.org survey findings will be released at 11 a.m. EDT on May 2, 2007 during a live, phone-based news conference (with full Q&A).

The CSI/40MPG.org survey will show that most Americans expect gasoline to reach $3.50 a gallon this summer and that they want action from Washington now on significantly increased federal fuel-efficiency standards for cars and other vehicles. Another key finding: With gasoline prices rising steadily so far in 2007, an increasing number of Americans are inclined to buy hybrids or other highly fuel-efficient vehicles.

  News event speakers will be:
  -- Civil Society Institute President and 40MPG.org founder Pam Solo;
  -- 40MPG.org spokesperson Ailis Aaron Wolf; and
  -- Opinion Research Corporation Senior Research Associate Graham Hueber.

TO JOIN THE EVENT: You can participate in this live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 11 a.m. EDT on May 2, 2007 by dialing 1 (800) 860-2442. Ask for the "gas price fall-out survey" news event.

CAN'T PARTICIPATE?: A streaming audio recording of the news event will be available on the Web as of 4 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2007 at http://www.40mpg.org/ and http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/.