$5 gas near, 78% of Americans say

A vast majority of consumers expect to shell out $4 and even $5 a gallon this year, according to a recent poll.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Americans are already paying through the nose for gasoline, and they think it’s only going to get worse.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll found that 94% of respondents expect they will have to pay $4 a gallon sometime this year – and 78% said they figure it will hit $5.


The national average for gasoline was $3.61 on Monday, according to motorist group AAA.

Consumers’ fears that they will have to pay more have intensified. A year ago, 79% thought gas would cost $4 by the end of 2007 and only 28% feared $5 gas.

At the same time, high prices seem to be easier to swallow now than it has been for most consumers in the past. Of the more than 1,000 American adults surveyed in the poll, conducted April 28-30, 60% said high fuel prices have caused hardship for them or their household. That’s down from 72% in March and 66% during the same time last year.

CNN