This study seeks to examine the relationship between the price of gasoline and the demand for larger fuel inefficient vehicles such as full SUVs and pickup trucks. Various industry specialists have studied the vast decrease in sales for U.S. automakers; in particular, large SUV sales over the past six years and many analyst attributed the changes to the corresponding rise in the price of gasoline. Some studies show as much as a 20 percent decline in the market share of U.S. firms between 2002 and 2007. This type of decline represents several billion dollars per year in lost profits. The studies reviewed below have examined the price of gasoline and attempted to show the relationship between gasoline prices and consumer purchasing decisions regarding fuel efficiency, type of vehicle purchased, and other sources that could affect the decision to purchase a pickup or sport utility vehicle.
Sarah E West (2007) examined the causes of new vehicle purchases from 1988 to 2000 by estimating the effect of previous years gas prices on the choice to buy a car, truck, van, or SUV using data from the 1988 to 2000 Consumer Expenditure Surveys and gasoline price data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, her preliminary results suggest that greater gas prices decrease the chance of buying vehicles that are not categorized as cars, with a major decrease in purchase likelihood occurring for vans, SUVs, and trucks. One noteworthy set of summary statistics shows that cars made up approximately 70 percent of new vehicle purchases, while trucks, SUVs, and vans were respectively about 13 percent, 9 percent, and 8 percent of the total from 1988 to 2000. Moreover, the results indicate that increases in the previous year’s gasoline prices redu...
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...l Area fuel. This data is used in the equation on a yearly basis to match other data entries, and it is obtained from the United States Energy Information Administration. INCOME is dealing with the annual household income of the purchaser this data will be obtained either through the Bureau of Labor Statistics – Consumer Expenditure Surveys, or through the Consumer Price Index.
Overall, previous literate has shown that there is a considerable relationship between gas prices and consumer demand for fuel efficiency. Almost all of the independent variables in the studies had statistical significance in the previous models. It is estimated that in this study all of these factors will again play a significant role in the decision of what vehicle to purchase and have a significant correlation and relevance as to which vehicles are more desired when fuel prices increase.
This paper will focus on the future of the U.S. Automobile industry as the United States recovers from the worst recession we have experienced in the past 75 years. I will provide information on the following topics pertaining to the U.S. automobile industry:
Gasoline is one of the many conversation starters anywhere you go. People have different opinions on why gasoline prices are fluctuating at such a rapid pace. Some Americans have chosen a way of thinking towards the prices. Whether it be making up rumors or just plainly trash talking towards our government. You make ask yourself the same questions many economist do, why has the price of oil been dropping so fast? Why now? This a complicated question, but it boils down to the simple economics of supply and demand. Supply and demand means a relationship between how much of a particular product is available and how much of it people want, and especially the way that this affects the level of pricing. Now of course there would be a shortage of gasoline during the summer time when everyone is traveling
In the United States, modern car manufacturing has been historically dominated by the American companies including Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC, and General Motors Co. These three companies, known as the Detroit Three, controlled 95% of the market in the 1950’s and the dominance continued until the beginning of the 21st century. In the 1980’s Japanese auto manufacturers entered the United States, a decade later the Germans, and finally in 2000’s the Koreans. By the end of 2009, the Detroit Three only accounted for 45% of the total U.S. auto market. Another factor that had influence on this was constant fluctuations in gasoline prices and price sensitive consumers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas prices hit record high averaging $3.07 per gallon in May 2007 and kept climbing up to $4.08 in July 2008. As gas prices kept increasing, consumer buying trends have been changing. In 2006 sales for SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans dropped 16%, while the market for compact cars rose by 3%. Unfortunately, the Detroit Three were not prepared for this since their...
I am a husband and a father of four lovely children. We need a large vehicle to haul all of us around town. And of course I would do anything to keep them safe and I always want to provide them with the best. Therefore, after the birth of our fourth child two and a half years ago, my wife and I decided to upgrade our Ford Explorer to a Ford Expedition. We got everything from the side-curtain airbags to the TV and DVD player. What we did not know was we also purchased a rather large unleaded gas bill. The first time we filled the tank it cost us roughly $35; today it costs us right around $75 to fill the tank. Obviously the price of gas has increased significantly in the last two years. The price increase is due to a fluctuation in the supply and demand of not only gasoline but also crude oil, which is needed to manufacture gasoline. In addition, several other factors are influencing a change in the price of gasoline.
Fuel prices is an area of concern for the motor carrier industry. Fuel prices are at an all-time high, driving the industry to make drastic changes. Individuals in the industry believe that by reducing the demand for fuel is the best way to address the current fuel issue. One of the leading alternatives to this fuel issue could be natural gas.
The future American commuter will undoubtedly have to transition from the use of fossil fuels to new alternatives due to the diminishing availability of the nation’s oil resources. How will America respond to this upcoming issue? It is difficult to predict which alternative fuel source America will ultimately choose, but with the premier of Nissan’s electric powered Leaf and other companies; such as Tesla Motors and Chevy, with their electric cars ready for market, the electric car may be winning the race to become the new standard for the gasoline alternative. Electric cars resolve long standing environmental issues, but it will need to maneuver around many roadblocks to become a marketable consideration for the general public. The cost of electric cars, currently on the market, makes them an impractical purchase for the average consumer. If cost is not the growing concern in today’s economy which prevents the consumer from considering this option; they may deny the technological advance due to battery storage capabilities and the inadequate infrastructure in place to refuel and provide for them.
The article by Mike Moffatt shows the price elasticity of demand for gasoline. According to Molly Espey the average price elasticity of demand for gasoline in the short- run is-0.26 and -0.58 In the long-run, which is a 10% raise in the price of gasoline lowers quantity demanded by 2.6% in the short- run and 5.8% in the long- run.Also, there are a studies were conducted by Phil Goodwin, Joyce Dargay and Mark Hanly at review of income and price elastics in the demand for road traffic and each of them has different study. Furthermore, the realized elasticities depend on factors such as the timeframe and locations that the study covers. If the gas taxes will rise, will cause consumption to decrease.
To conclude this analysis, it can be noted that any increases in the prices of fuel will increase Australia’s economy as a whole, in other words the higher the costs of logistics will increase the price of products (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 2014). The consumers will have to handle the burden of having higher costs of products, which would create an inflation. With the increasing price of fuel, consumers might want to alter their lifestyles, such as using public transportation or even carpooling. Vacations and travelling will also have to be cut down. Australia requires further government intervention to control the price of fuel by subsidizing so that inflation may be curbed.
With a gasoline-fueled vehicle, buying gas to operate your car is a never-ending process. With the high price change of gasoline and oil, operating a gasoline-fueled vehicle tends to be very costly. While there are some types of small gasoline vehicles that get much better gas mileage than larger vehicles, even the most powerful gasoline cars will normally desire a contribution every month. According to some experts the only way a mainstream market for green vehicles wills materlize is with a pronounced and prolonged rise in fuel prices. (Buss, 4)
b. Opportunities and Threats: The increase in fuel prices is likely to continue into the distant future, requiring either reduced services to control costs or new technologies to accommodate. The threat of low cost, flexible companies entering the markets in a variety of places, cutting into market share in numerous small areas, taken as a whole, threatens to harm larger c...
The recent surge in the cost of heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline in the United States has had significant impact on many sectors of the U.S. economy, but most importantly it has had quite a devastating affect on the trucking industry. This is important due to the fact that nearly “70% of U.S. communities rely solely on trucking for their supplies” (“ATA” 23). If the government continues it’s trend of non-intervention and refuses to place pressure on OPEC, the prices will continue to soar well over the two-dollar mark, and cause the trucking industry as a whole to shut down bringing the U.S. economy to a grinding halt.
Finally, many car companies make more efficient cars and hybrid cars. Companies trying to boost their sales through efficient cars and lower gas cost for the consumer. Because of the higher prices of gas consumers are looking for more efficient cars. Gas prices left big companies like Ford, Toyota, and Dodge slow which it had a direct effect in the economy and the workforce. Many people lost their jobs over the passed six months because of the effect of the slow economy.
A vehicle is one of the biggest purchases a person will ever make. Over the years, the prices of an automobile have increased due to the rise of inflation. Due to a price index, the price of an automobile changes over a certain period of time. Economists compare averages of automobiles to calculate the cost of each vehicle that presents itself on a car lot. When all of the above is calculated within the purchase of an automobile, it affects every area of making the automobile to selling the automobile. All of these factors are impacted together for the automobile industry as a whole.
There are four main factors influence the demand of cars. Firstly, the price of cars will affect the demand of cars. Secondly, the citizens’ income has the effect for the demand of cars. Thirdly, the government’s macroeconomic control policies will also effect the demand. Finally, the price of gasoline will affect the demand.
Types of goods will help us determine whether demand for cars is elastic or inelastic. If a good is considered to be a luxury rather than a necessity, the greater is the price elasticity of demand (McConnell & Brue, 2004). Cars can be deemed as necessary due to a need for transportation. Other types of cars can be classified as luxury. A person who needs to be able to get from one place to another will have the need for a car. An old vehicle may suffice. In such a scenario, buying a brand new car is more likely to be a luxury rather than a necessity. If car prices go up, people are more inclined to just keep driving their old vehicles. In essence, the cars already on the road would serve as substitutes for new cars. However, over a longer period of time, old cars tend to wear out and the elasticity of demand for vehicles is less.