Few Plan to Change Vacation Plans Because of Gas Prices

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- More than half of Americans in a recent Gallup Panel poll say they plan to take a vacation this summer, but a relatively small percentage say rising gas prices will cause them to alter their plans. Of those who will change their plans because of gas prices, most say they will change their destinations or shorten their trips. Gas prices are taking their toll on the vacation plans of lower-income earners, rather than higher-income earners.

The poll was conducted May 22-24 of a nationally representative sample of 1,003 members of Gallup's household panel.

Overall Results

Fifty-five percent of Americans plan to take a vacation this summer, while 43% do not.

Only about one in four (27%) Americans with summer vacation plans say they have changed these plans because of the higher price of gasoline. The vast majority, 73%, have not changed their plans because of gas prices. Among all Americans, 15% say they have altered their summer vacation plans because of gas prices, 41% are going forward with their current plans, and 43% do not have any summer vacation plans at all.

Selecting a different destination or shortening the trip is the most common way vacation plans have been changed. The majority of those who say they have altered their plans because of high gas prices say they have done this. Twelve percent are cutting down on the number of trips they normally take, 11% have to save up to counter the high gas prices or more carefully plan their trips, and 11% say they plan to fly instead of drive. Five percent say they will be using a different vehicle because the one they prefer to take on the trip consumes too much gas.

Summer Vacation Plans by Household Income Levels

Americans residing in higher-income households are more likely than those in lower-income households to say they are planning a summer vacation this year. Overall, 68% of Americans whose household incomes are $50,000 or more per year are planning to take a vacation this summer, compared with 42% of those whose household incomes are less than $50,000.

The rising gasoline prices are affecting the vacation plans of lower-income earners more so than higher-income earners. Thirty-four percent of lower-income earners with vacation plans say they have changed these plans as a result of gas prices, compared with only 19% of higher-income earners with vacation plans. Majorities of both income groups say the price of gasoline will not affect their vacation plans.

Which Groups of Americans Are Planning a Summer Vacation?

Certain groups of Americans are more likely than others to tell Gallup that they have summer vacation plans this year.

• Men are more likely than women, by a 61% to 50% margin, to say they plan to take a vacation this summer.

• Adults younger than age 50 are also more likely than those who are older to have summer vacation plans, with 65% of 18- to 34-year-olds, 61% of 35- to 49-year-olds, and just 45% of adults aged 50 and older saying they have plans.

• Older women are much less likely than younger women or men of any age to say they have summer vacation plans this year. Just 38% of women aged 50 and older say they have vacation plans. This compares with 60% of women aged 18 to 49, 66% of men aged 18 to 49, and 53% of men aged 50 and older.

• Sixty-two percent of adults with children under age 18 say they are planning a vacation this summer. This percentage is lower, at 51%, among those without children in this age group.

• Married adults are slightly more likely than unmarried adults to take a summer vacation this year, by a 58% to 51% margin.

Survey Methods

Results for this panel study are based on telephone interviews with 1,003 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 22-24, 2006. Respondents were randomly drawn from Gallup's household panel, which was originally recruited through random selection methods. The panel was weighted prior to sampling so that it was demographically representative of the U.S. adult population.

For results based on the sample of 538 adults who plan to take a vacation this year, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

For results based on the sample of 133 adults who changed their summer vacation plans due to higher gasoline prices, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±9 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.