Retail gas prices are on the rise again and motorists are prepared to make money-saving changes if prices surpass $3.50 a gallon.

Almost one in four motorists (23%) will make extensive behavior modifications to save money if gas prices reach between $3.50 to $4 a gallon, according to a AAA Consumer Pulse™ survey. However, more than one in three survey respondents (38%) said they will not make behavioral changes until gas prices range from $4 to $4.50 a gallon.

Consumers are almost evenly split on who they blame for the rise in pump prices:

• 43% blame oil companies
• 29% blame a lack of more U.S. drilling
• 25% blame the Mideast
• 22% blame commodity speculators
• 22% blame oil cartels
• 21% blame the president

Though two in five consumers (43%) blame oil companies for the rise in gas prices, it's commodity speculators who often have more impact on oil prices that affect what motorists pay at the pump. Currently, tensions with Iran have created concern among speculators of a possible global supply disruption that led to an almost immediate rise in both oil and gas prices. In addition, speculation European leaders will take action to spur economic growth has also placed upward pressure on prices.

“Speculators drive the market at this time and have kept oil prices above $90 a barrel for the majority of July,” said Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group. “The increased cost of crude oil has been passed down to consumers and it doesn’t look like the upward trend will be reversed any time soon.”

Other AAA Consumer Pulse™ survey findings:

• Top three things consumers have cut back on as a direct result of increased gas prices are:
  • Shopping for pleasure (47%)
  • Dining out at restaurants (44%)
  • Going out for lunch during the week (35%)
• Top four things consumers do to make up for the increased expense of gasoline are:
  • Drive less (48%)
  • Consolidate errands (44%)
  • Budget better (35%)
  • Cut back on discretionary expenses (33%)

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America.  ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to approximately 8.8 million members across 11 states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois, Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana.  ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with nearly 53 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. 

The AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey was conducted online among residents living in the Southern Region of The Auto Club Group (Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee) from April 25 - 27, 2012.  A total of 616 residents completed the survey.  The survey has a maximum margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage points.  Overall survey responses are weighted by gender and age within state to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the adult population (18+) in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.