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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - In California, 40 percent of drivers have cut back on other types of spending because of high gas prices and almost 60 percent say they are driving less, according to a recent survey.
The survey of 686 adult Californians was conducted in late August by the Field Research Group. The average gasoline price in California, typically among the highest in the nation, was approaching $2.80 a gallon, according to AAA.
Overall, 71 percent of Californians regarded rising fuel prices as a serious matter. Of those with annual household incomes of less than $40,000, 80 percent viewed it as a serious matter.
Nearly two-thirds of Californians surveyed said they now shop around for gas stations with lower pump prices and 59 percent said they have cut back on around-town driving or vacation car trips.
Of those with more than one vehicle, 54 percent said they have been using their more fuel-efficient vehicle more often. Twenty-one percent are considering replacing their vehicle with one that's more efficient, while 28 percent said they have already done this.
Of registered voters in California with household incomes of less than $40,000, 54 percent said they have cut back on other areas of spending such as food, clothing and eating out. Overall, 40 percent said they have cut back.
Most Californians, 83 percent, blame oil companies for rising fuel prices while 69 percent give at least some blame to the Bush administration. While 76 percent put at least some of the blame on foreign oil-producing nations, a higher percentage, 47 percent, put "a lot" of the blame on President Bush's office than on foreign nations. Only 41 percent put "a lot" of the blame on oil-producing nations.
Fifty-nine percent of Californians placed at least some blame on "Americans who drive vehicles that use a lot of gasoline," but, of those, only 31 percent gave those drivers "a lot" of the blame.
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