Big Oil seeks to burnish U.S. image in 2007

And nearly half the respondents thought the oil and gas industry earns 13.8 cents on a dollar of sales — the highest amount offered as an answer option. Only 15 percent identified the correct figure — 8.5 cents, according to the data.

Results also suggest that many Americans see a limitless supply of gasoline and oil controlled by Big Oil’s whims, not by market economics and geology.