Europeans Cut Down on Driving

It's not just the Americans who are affected by rising fuel prices. New research from ACNielsen finds consumers throughout Europe have been forced to change their driving habits and cut down on living expenses to cope with spiralling fuel and petrol prices.

According to a global online survey of Internet users in 42 countries conducted last November, one in three Europeans is affected 'a lot' by rising fuel prices. 45% of consumers are using their vehicle less as a consequence, and 22% are cutting down on non-essential living expenses.

Consumers in Western Europe have been hardest hit. 55% of French respondents, 50% of Portuguese, 40% of Germans and 39% of Belgians say they have been affected significantly by oil prices.

45% of Europeans are using their vehicles less, rising to two thirds in Austria, and more than 50% in Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium. Nearly 30% of German and Swiss consumers are now using public transport more. Across the continent, 37% are making an effort to combine errands and trips - rising to 43% in Norway and 47% in the UK.

In addition to trying to drive less, 43% of Italians and 33% of French drivers are also cutting back on non essential expenses in order to fill their petrol tank. This figure is 22% for Europe as a whole.

ACNielsen is online at www.acnielsen.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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