forked from codelucas/newspaper
-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
Expand file tree
/
Copy pathpewresearch.org2.html
More file actions
450 lines (391 loc) 路 34.3 KB
/
Copy pathpewresearch.org2.html
File metadata and controls
450 lines (391 loc) 路 34.3 KB
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]> <html class="ie ie6" lang="en-US"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]> <html class="ie ie7" lang="en-US"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]> <html class="ie ie8" lang="en-US"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 9 ]> <html class="ie ie9" lang="en-US"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if gt IE 9]><!--><html lang="en-US"><!--<![endif]-->
<head profile="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1">
<title>Do lower gas prices mean happier consumers? | Pew Research Center</title>
<meta name="date" content="20141216">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
<link href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/favicon.png" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/>
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/touch-icons/apple-touch-icon-144x144-precomposed.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/touch-icons/apple-touch-icon-114x114-precomposed.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/touch-icons/apple-touch-icon-72x72-precomposed.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/touch-icons/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png">
<meta name="topics" content="National Economy">
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@pewresearch">
<meta name="twitter:url" content="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/">
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?">
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Lower gasoline prices tend to improve consumer sentiment, but spending less at the pump doesn't mean people will spend more at the mall.">
<meta property="og:type" content="article">
<meta property="og:title" content="Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?">
<meta property="og:description" content="Lower gasoline prices tend to improve consumer sentiment, but spending less at the pump doesn't mean people will spend more at the mall.">
<meta property="og:url" content="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/">
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Pew Research Center">
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2014-12-16T10:30:53+00:00">
<meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/pewresearch">
<meta property="og:image" content="http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/12/FT_14.12.16_gas.png">
<meta property="og:image:width" content="640">
<meta property="og:image:height" content="363">
<meta name="twitter:image:src" content="http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/12/FT_14.12.16_gas.png">
<meta name="news_keywords" content="economy,retail, gasoline,prices,consumers">
<script type="text/javascript">
//Typekit
(function() {
var config = {
kitId: 'xos5dbo',
scriptTimeout: 3000
};
var h=document.getElementsByTagName("html")[0];h.className+=" wf-loading";var t=setTimeout(function(){h.className=h.className.replace(/(\s|^)wf-loading(\s|$)/g," ");h.className+=" wf-inactive"},config.scriptTimeout);var tk=document.createElement("script"),d=false;tk.src='//use.typekit.net/'+config.kitId+'.js';tk.type="text/javascript";tk.async="true";tk.onload=tk.onreadystatechange=function(){var a=this.readyState;if(d||a&&a!="complete"&&a!="loaded")return;d=true;clearTimeout(t);try{Typekit.load(config)}catch(b){}};var s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(tk,s)
})();
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//Chartbeat
var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();
</script>
<meta name="theme-color" content="#231f20">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Pew Research Center RSS Feed" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/feed/">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Pew Research Center » Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers? Comments Feed" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/feed/" />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='pewresearch-css' href='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/css/2014-12-17_5:24/pewresearch.min.css' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='single-fact-tank-css' href='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/css/2014-12-17_5:24/single-fact-tank.min.css' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='print-css' href='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/css/2014-12-17_5:24/print.min.css' type='text/css' media='print' />
<!-- This site uses the Yoast Google Analytics plugin v5.0.5 - Universal disabled - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/google-analytics/ -->
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-1905197-1']);
_gaq.push(['_gat._forceSSL']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
_gaq.push(['allprc._setAccount', 'UA-1905197-8']);
_gaq.push(['allprc._setDomainName', 'www.pewresearch.org']);
_gaq.push(['allprc._setAllowLinker', true]);
_gaq.push(['allprc._trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
<!-- / Yoast Google Analytics -->
<script type='text/javascript' src='//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1/jquery.min.js'></script>
<link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" />
<link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml" />
<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 4.0.1" />
<link rel='shortlink' href='http://www.pewresearch.org/?p=265637' />
<link rel='https://github.com/WP-API/WP-API' href='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-json' />
<!--[if lt IE 9]><script src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/plugins/pew-scripts/js/html5shiv-printshiv.min.js"></script><![endif]-->
<link rel="alternate" type="application/json" title="JSON Representation" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/feed/json/">
<link rel="alternate" type="text/plain" title="Prism XML Version" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/feed/prism/">
<link rel="alternate" type="text/plain" title="Plain Text Version" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/feed/plain/">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Pew Research Center Fact Tank RSS Feed" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/feed/">
<!-- All in One SEO Pack 2.2.3.1 by Michael Torbert of Semper Fi Web Design[513,583] -->
<meta name="description" itemprop="description" content="Lower gasoline prices tend to improve consumer sentiment, but spending less at the pump doesn't mean people will spend more at the mall." />
<meta name="keywords" itemprop="keywords" content="economy,retail, gasoline,prices,consumers" />
<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/" />
<!-- /all in one seo pack -->
<style type="text/css">.broken_link, a.broken_link {
text-decoration: line-through;
}</style></head>
<body class="single single-fact-tank singular no-js fact-tank fact-tank-single">
<!--googleoff: index-->
<div id="fb-root"></div>
<a id="top" href="#content">Skip to Content</a>
<div id="tagline">
<div class="holder">
<p>Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World</p>
<form action="http://www.pewresearch.org/" role="search">
<input type="search" name="s" id="s" placeholder="Search Fact Tank" value="">
<input type="hidden" name="site" value="fact-tank">
<input type="image" alt="Search" class="submit" src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/magnify.png">
</form>
<div class="social-media">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pewresearch"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/social-facebook.png"/></a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/pewresearch"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/social-twitter.png"/></a>
<a href="http://eepurl.com/5aedL"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/social-email.png"/></a>
<a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/feed/"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/social-rss.png"/></a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="header" role="banner">
<div class="holder">
<div class="logo"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org" class="pewresearch"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/PRC-Logo.png"/></a>
<a class="open-menu" href="">Menu</a><a class="open-projects" href="">Projects</a>
</div>
<div id="nav" role="navigation" class="holder">
<ul class="project-wide"> <li class="home active"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/"><img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/home-icon.png" alt=""> <span>Home</span></a></li>
<li class="two-line"><a href="http://www.people-press.org">U.S. Politics</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.journalism.org">Media & News</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org">Social Trends</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.pewforum.org">Religion</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.pewinternet.org">Internet & Tech</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.pewhispanic.org">Hispanics</a></li>
<li class=""><a href="http://www.pewglobal.org">Global</a></li>
</ul><ul class="site-wide menu-items-6"><li id="menu-item-37899" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-37899"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/category/publications/">Publications</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-32015" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32015"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/">Topics</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-26089" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-26089"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/data/">Data</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-252839" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-252839"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/category/interactives/">Interactives</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-247560" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-247560"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/">Fact Tank</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-32455" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32455"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/about/">About</a></li>
</ul> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="holder">
<div id="banner">
<a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/">Fact Tank - Our Lives in Numbers</a>
</div>
<!--googleon: index-->
<div id="content" role="main" class="content">
<!--googleoff: index--><div class="addthis_toolbox social" addthis:url="http://pewrsr.ch/1AChVNK" addthis:title="Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?" id="addthis0"><div class="custom_images small-black"><a class="addthis_button_facebook" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpewrsr.ch%2F1AChVNK"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_twitter" tw:related="pewresearch" tw:via="pewresearch"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_email"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_print"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"><div></div></a></div></div> <!--googleon: index--><script>var addthis_config = {data_track_clickback: false, ui_click: true, services_compact: "reddit, linkedin, tumblr, pinterest, google_plusone_share, more", services_exclude: "facebook, twitter, print"}</script>
<div class="meta date">December 16, 2014</div>
<h1>Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?</h1>
<p class="byline">By <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/author/ddesilver/" title="Get posts by Drew DeSilver" rel="author">Drew DeSilver</a><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/#comments" class="comment-count">Leave a comment</a></p>
<div class="text clearfix">
<p><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/12/FT_14.12.16_gas.png" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article-', 'http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/12/FT_14.12.16_gas.png', '']);" ><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-265726" src="http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2014/12/FT_14.12.16_gas.png" alt="gas prices consumer confidence" width="640" height="363" /></a>Gasoline prices have been dropping since midsummer, and consumers’ confidence about the economy has been on the rise. Could there be a connection?</p>
<p>According to a new <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2014/12/16/perceptions-of-job-news-trend-upward" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://www.people-press.org/2014/12/16/perceptions-of-job-news-trend-upward', 'Pew Research Center report']);" target="_blank">Pew Research Center report</a>, 70% of Americans now report hearing mostly good news about gas prices, up from just 15% in August. In truth, gas prices have been falling for months: As of Monday, the national average price of a gallon of self-serve regular was $2.554 — $1.15 less than in late June (representing a nearly one-third drop), according to the U.S. <a href="http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_w.htm" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_w.htm', 'Energy Information Administration']);" target="_blank">Energy Information Administration</a>. That’s the cheapest gas has been since October 2009.聽Also, Brent crude oil has fallen more than $45 a barrel since June and is now聽<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-16/dubai-stocks-lead-gcc-declines-as-global-markets-oil-retreat.html" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-16/dubai-stocks-lead-gcc-declines-as-global-markets-oil-retreat.html', 'below $59 a barrel']);" target="_blank">below $59 a barrel</a>聽for the first time since May 2009.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the University of Michigan’s <a href="http://press.sca.isr.umich.edu/press/press_release" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://press.sca.isr.umich.edu/press/press_release', 'Index of Consumer Sentiment']);" target="_blank">Index of Consumer Sentiment</a> stood at 88.8 in November, up 7 points since July and its highest reading since mid-2007. The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/umich-preliminary-consumer-confidence-dec-11-2014-12" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://www.businessinsider.com/umich-preliminary-consumer-confidence-dec-11-2014-12', 'preliminary December reading']);" target="_blank">preliminary December reading</a> is even higher, at 93.8, though that’s still subject to revision.<span id="more-265637"></span></p>
<p>We plotted the monthly consumer-sentiment index against the monthly average price of regular gas (adjusted for inflation) and found a moderately strong negative correlation — that is, consumer sentiment rose as pump prices fell. That aligns with previous research: For example, a <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2034408" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2034408', '2012 paper']);" target="_blank">2012 paper</a> from two researchers at Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland Baltimore County not only found an inverse correlation between gas prices and consumer sentiment, but used聽<a href="http://davegiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/testing-for-granger-causality.html" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://davegiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/testing-for-granger-causality.html', 'causality testing']);" target="_blank">causality testing</a>聽to conclude that price changes predicted sentiment changes and not the other way around.</p>
<p>A聽<a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1135493##" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1135493##', '2009 paper']);" target="_blank">2009 paper</a>聽in the Journal of Monetary Economics, which also found a cause-and-effect relationship, analyzed the University of Michigan survey results in more detail to try to get at the dynamics of how consumers respond to energy-price changes. After a major one-time price jump, the researchers found, “an increasing number of people expect general business conditions and their personal financial situation to deteriorate over the coming year in response to an unanticipated loss in purchasing power….[T]he index for buying conditions for large household goods falls by 1.9 points. An even larger decrease is observed for vehicles….Increased pessimism about buying conditions in response to purchasing power losses is associated with expectations of higher unemployment, higher interest rates, and lower real family income.”</p>
<p>Those attitudinal changes have real-world consequences, though not large ones. The authors of the JME paper, Paul Edelstein and Lutz Kilian, concentrated mainly on unexpected increases, rather than drops, in energy prices; they estimated that聽a one-time, 1% increase in energy prices was associated with a 0.08% fall in total real consumption a year later, based on 1988-2006 data. But that was considerably less than the 0.30% decline seen in the 1970-1987 data; energy price shocks, they concluded, have less effect on the overall economy than they used to.</p>
<p>Edelstein and Kilian also estimated that one year after an unexpected, permanent increase of 25 cents a gallon in the price of gas, a typical household would have reduced its expenditures by $17 a month, with most of the adjustment coming in the first six months after the price increase. Concluded the researchers: “It takes repeated surprise increases in gasoline prices to generate large effects on household consumption, but over time the effects will add up.”</p>
<p class="terms">Topics: <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/national-economy/">National Economy</a></p>
<!--googleoff: index--><div class="addthis_toolbox social" addthis:url="http://pewrsr.ch/1AChVNK" addthis:title="Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?" id="addthis0"><div class="bitly_link"><label for="bitly-link">Share the link:</label><input type="text" id="bitly-link" value="http://pewrsr.ch/1AChVNK" readonly /></div><div class="custom_images small-black"><a class="addthis_button_facebook" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpewrsr.ch%2F1AChVNK"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_twitter" tw:related="pewresearch" tw:via="pewresearch"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_email"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_print"><div></div></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"><div></div></a></div></div> <!--googleon: index--><script>var addthis_config = {data_track_clickback: false, ui_click: true, services_compact: "reddit, linkedin, tumblr, pinterest, google_plusone_share, more", services_exclude: "facebook, twitter, print"}</script></div>
<ol class="bios">
<li class="bio">
<img src="http://www.pewresearch.org/files/2013/05/DeSilver-60x90.jpg" alt="Photo of Drew DeSilver">
<div>
<p><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/author/ddesilver/" rel="author">Drew DeSilver</a> is a Senior Writer at the Pew Research Center.</p>
<ul class="more-links">
<li class="first"><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/author/ddesilver/" rel="author">Posts</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/contact-form/#Drew-DeSilver">Email</a></li>
<li class="last"><a href="https://twitter.com/DrewDeSilver">@DrewDeSilver</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<form id="newsletter" action="http://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe/post" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="u" value="434f5d1199912232d416897e4">
<input type="hidden" name="id" value="3e953b9b70">
<input type="hidden" name="group[153][1]" value="1">
<label class="signup-kicker" for="newsletter-email-address">Get <strong>Pew Research</strong> data by email</label>
<input type="email" class="text" placeholder="Enter your email address" name="MERGE0" id="newsletter-email-address">
<input type="submit" class="submit" value="Signup" name="submit">
</form>
<!--googleoff: index-->
<div id="comments">
<div id="respond">
<h3>Leave a Comment</h3>
<div class="cancel-comment-reply"><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel Reply</a></div>
<form action="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform">
<div id="comment-user-details">
<div id="single-sign-on" class="hide">
<div id="facebook-connect" class="button">
<p><a href="#"><span>Log In with </span>Facebook</a></p>
</div>
<div id="google-connect" class="button">
<p><a href="#"><span>Sign In with </span>Google</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="or hide"><span>Or</span></p>
<fieldset>
<label for="author">Name
<input type="text" name="author" id="author" value="" size="31" class="comment-field" required aria-required />
</label>
<label for="email">Email (will not be published)
<input type="email" name="email" id="email" value="" size="31" class="comment-field" required aria-required />
</label>
</fieldset>
</div>
<fieldset class="hide-if-js">
<label for="current-year">Current Year (YYYY)</label>
<input type="text" id="current-year" name="current-year" value="">
</fieldset>
<fieldset class="hide-if-js">
<label>Leave this field blank</label>
<input type="email" name="other-email" value="">
</fieldset>
<textarea name="comment" id="comment" rows="10" class="comment-box" required aria-required></textarea>
<p class="disclaimer">All comments must follow the Pew Research <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/about/use-policy/commenting-policy/">comment policy</a> and will be moderated before posting.</p>
<input name="submit" type="submit" id="submit" class="btnComment" value="Post Comment">
<input type="hidden" name="hash" id="cookie-hash" value="25217abcbde0a08098e6b7bc25933238">
<input type="hidden" name="comment_post_ID" id="comment_post_ID" value="265637">
<input type="hidden" value="0" id="comment_parent" name="comment_parent">
<p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="akismet_comment_nonce" name="akismet_comment_nonce" value="1e9cfbe992" /></p><p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="ak_js" name="ak_js" value="243"/></p>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<!--googleon: index-->
</div>
<div id="sidebar" role="complementary">
<div class="about-fact-tank">
<h3><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/05/21/introducing-fact-tank/">About Fact Tank</a></h3>
<p>Real-time analysis and news about data from Pew Research writers and social scientists.</p>
<ul class="horizontal">
<li class="first"><a href="https://twitter.com/FactTank">Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/feed/">RSS</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/category/publications/fact-tank/">Archive</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="widget">
<h2 class="header">Recent Posts</h2>
<div id="right-rail-social">
<div id="inthenews" class="recent-posts">
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/17/census-bureau-proposes-dropping-some-marriage-and-divorce-questions/"><h2>Census Bureau proposes dropping some marriage and divorce questions</h2></a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/17/wealth-gap-upper-middle-income/"><h2>America’s wealth gap between middle-income and upper-income families is widest on record</h2></a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/16/with-fewer-new-arrivals-census-lowers-hispanic-population-projections-2/"><h2>With fewer new arrivals, Census lowers Hispanic population projections</h2></a>
<a class="post active"><h2>Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?</h2></a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/15/conflicts-continue-over-nativity-scenes-on-public-property/"><h2>Conflicts continue over nativity scenes on public property</h2></a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="widget twitter-timeline position-1"> <h5 class="header">Tweets by @FactTank</h5>
<a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://twitter.com/facttank" data-widget-id="336570990437990404">Tweets by @facttank</a>
</div>
<div class="widget">
<div class="widget">
<h2 class="header">Related</h2>
<div class="inner with-posts">
<a class="post" href="http://www.people-press.org/2014/12/16/perceptions-of-job-news-trend-upward/">
<div class="meta">
<span class="project u-s-politics right-seperator">U.S. Politics</span>
<span class="date">Dec 16, 2014</span>
</div>
<h2>Perceptions of Job News Trend Upward</h2>
</a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/11/retailers-still-rely-on-holiday-sales-but-not-quite-as-much-as-they-used-to/">
<div class="meta">
<span class="project religion right-seperator">Religion</span>
<span class="date">Dec 11, 2014</span>
</div>
<h2>Retailers still rely on holiday sales, but not quite as much as they used to</h2>
</a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/05/for-retailers-the-holidays-mean-a-hiring-binge-and-then-a-purge/">
<div class="meta">
<span class="project fact-tank right-seperator">Fact Tank</span>
<span class="date">Dec 5, 2014</span>
</div>
<h2>For retailers, the holidays mean a hiring binge — and then a purge</h2>
</a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/17/where-near-minimum-wage-workers-work-and-how-much-they-make/">
<div class="meta">
<span class="project fact-tank right-seperator">Fact Tank</span>
<span class="date">Nov 17, 2014</span>
</div>
<h2>Where near-minimum-wage workers work, and how much they make</h2>
</a>
<a class="post" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/14/more-and-more-americans-are-outside-the-labor-force-entirely-who-are-they/">
<div class="meta">
<span class="project fact-tank right-seperator">Fact Tank</span>
<span class="date">Nov 14, 2014</span>
</div>
<h2>More and more Americans are outside the labor force entirely. Who are they?</h2>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
<!--googleoff: index-->
</div>
<div id="footer" role="contentinfo">
<div class="holder">
<div class="contact vcard">
<p> <img class="fn org organization-name" src="http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/img/PRC-Logo-footer.png" alt="Pew Research Center"> <span class="adr"> <span class="street-address">1615 L Street, NW, Suite 700</span> <span class="locality">Washington</span>, <span class="region">DC</span> <span class="postal-code">20036</span> </span>
<a href="tel:+12024194300" class="tel"> <span class="value">202.419.4300</span> | <span class="type">Main</span></a>
<a href="tel:+12024194349" class="tel"> <span class="value">202.419.4349</span> | <span class="type">Fax</span></a>
<a href="tel:+12024194372" class="tel"> <span class="value">202.419.4372</span> | <span class="type">Media Inquiries</span></a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="links">
<div class="projects">
<h2>Research Projects</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.people-press.org/">Pew Research Center for the People & the Press</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.journalism.org">Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewinternet.org">Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewforum.org">Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewhispanic.org">Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends Project</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/">Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/">Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="follow-prc">
<h2>Follow Pew Research</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/follow-pew-research-center/" class="email"><span>Email Newsletters</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pewresearch" class="facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/pewresearch" class="twitter"><span>Twitter</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://pewresearch.tumblr.com/" class="tumblr"><span>Tumblr</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PewResearchCenter/featured" class="youtube"><span>YouTube</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://plus.google.com/+pewresearch" class="google-plus" rel="publisher"><span>Google+</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/feed/" class="rss" title="Really Simple Syndication"><span>RSS</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<p class="about"><strong>About Pew Research</strong> Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.pewtrusts.org/">The Pew Charitable Trusts</a>.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="fine-print" class="holder">
<ul>
<li class="first">Copyright 2014 Pew Research Center</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/terms-and-conditions/">Terms & Conditions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/about/use-policy/">Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/contact-form/">Feedback</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/about/careers/">Careers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/about/experts/">Find an Expert</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
var fbArgs, googArgs;
var fbArgs = {"appId":"163777600463752","channelUrl":"http:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fb-channel-file\/","status":true,"cookie":true,"xfbml":false,"oauth":true}
var googArgs = {"callback":"googSignInCallback","clientid":"59878118918.apps.googleusercontent.com","cookiepolicy":"single_host_origin","requestvisibleactions":"http:\/\/schemas.google.com\/AddActivity","scope":"https:\/\/www.googleapis.com\/auth\/userinfo.email https:\/\/www.googleapis.com\/auth\/plus.login"}
</script>
<script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","articleSection":"Fact Tank","headline":"Do lower gasoline prices make for confident consumers?","url":"http:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2014\/12\/16\/gas-prices-consumer-sentiment\/","thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/files\/2014\/12\/FT_14.12.16_gas.png","dateCreated":"2014-12-16T15:30:53+00:00","keywords":["National Economy"],"creator":["Drew DeSilver"]}</script>
<div id="parsely-root" style="display: none">
<span id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="pewresearch.org"></span>
</div>
<script>
(function(s, p, d) {
var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s,
e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"),
u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net"
:"static."+p+".com";
if (e) return;
e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true;
e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e);
})("script", "parsely", document);
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/plugins/akismet/_inc/form.js'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/plugins/pew-scripts/js/2014-12-17_5:13/pew-comments.min.js'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/themes/pewresearch/js/2013-06-20_3:25/pew-fact-tank-analytics.min.js'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/plugins/pew-scripts/js/2014-12-01_10:21/pew-global.min.js'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js?ver=4.0.1#pubid=ra-4fbfe0b20f17a515'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js'></script>
<!-- Cached by CDN, Generated: 2014-12-17 12:28:41 pm EST -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//ChartBeat
var servername = window.location.hostname.replace("www.","");
var _sf_async_config={uid:2308,domain:servername};
(function(){
function loadChartbeat() {
window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime();
var e = document.createElement('script');
e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript');
e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
e.setAttribute('src',
(("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://s3.amazonaws.com/" : "http://") +
"static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js");
document.body.appendChild(e);
}
var oldonload = window.onload;
window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ?
loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); };
})();
//CrazyEgg
setTimeout(function(){var a=document.createElement("script");
var b=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
a.src=document.location.protocol+"//dnn506yrbagrg.cloudfront.net/pages/scripts/0011/2177.js?"+Math.floor(new Date().getTime()/3600000);
a.async=true;a.type="text/javascript";b.parentNode.insertBefore(a,b)}, 1);
</script>
</body></html>