AP/IPSOS International Poll on “Fair” Gas Prices

17 October 2005

Poll results plus actual prices. Click to enlarge.

An international poll conducted by the Associated Press and Ipsos (AP/IPSOS) finds that while drivers in the nine polled countries all think that a “fair” price for gasoline is less than what they are currently paying, Americans have the expectations of the lowest prices.

Interestingly, the percentage delta between prices paid and the average perceived fair price varies far less than the actual prices of gasoline in the different countries.

The poll asked respondents to identify what they perceived as a fair price for gasoline from a range. The average response is reflected in the chart above and the table below.

The delta between actual and ideal varies less than the actual gas prices. In the US, for example, with an average national price of $2.85 per gallon, respondents on average identified a fair price as $1.99—30% less. In France, where current prices are around $5.82 per gallon, drivers on average identified a fair price as being around $4.08—also 30% less.

In the table below, all prices are adjusted to US$/gallon. Average Fair Price indicates the mean response to the polling question. Current prices are derived from the US EIA for all countries except S. Korea, and the Chosun Ilbo for S. Korea.