Energy costs have Canadians cutting back

 

CALGARY, Alberta, Jun 28, 2007 -- UPI

 

A new survey says Canadians are responding to higher energy costs by cutting back on energy use at home and taking public transportation.

More than a third say they've changed their summer vacation plans because of higher gasoline prices.

Only 8 percent of those surveyed said they haven't made any changes to their daily lives because of high energy costs, CanWest News Service said Wednesday.

The Decima Research survey for Investors Group found more than half of respondents agree high energy prices will force them to cut back on other spending. Nearly two-thirds said it will leave them with less money for saving or investing.

"The increasing cost of gasoline and energy is creating a national re-examination of spending and consumption," the survey analysis said. "While a significant portion of Canadians say they are considering changes to what and how they drive, many also say they are examining household costs and longer-term expenditures."

The survey of 1,026 Canadians claimed to be accurate within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20, CanWest said.

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