It's the Gas Station Nation

Even though gasoline prices have dropped from mid-summer highs, a third of 14,000 online consumers surveyed by Burst Media say fuel prices are affecting their decision to purchase or lease a new or used vehicle.

Virtually the same percentage of consumers said the same thing in a Burst survey in July of 2006, even though fuel prices were considerably higher then.

About 27% of those not in-market say they have delayed a purchase because of gasoline prices, while 20% of those in-market say they have accelerated their purchase plans.

The study says about 66% of in-market respondents, across almost all income levels, indicate the price of gasoline has influenced the types of vehicle models they will consider purchasing or leasing.

Only among respondents with household incomes of $100,000 or greater does a majority (53.8%) say gasoline prices don't affect their vehicle-purchasing decisions.

About 79% of in-market respondents say they will use the Internet to research automobile models they might purchase or lease.

Pricing (65.1%), fuel economy (52.7%) and safety information (50.6%) are the most popular automotive information types sought online.

Meanwhile, the survey indicates 60.8% of in-market respondents actively view video content on the web when they are shopping for a vehicle.

Such viewing is not youth-oriented. Older age segments (55 years and older) were as likely to view online video content as the youngest age segment (18-24 years), according to Burst.

Men are more likely than women to say they have viewed online automotive video content, 75.0% versus 63.9% respectively.

According to the study, the likelihood of viewing online automotive video content increases as household income increases.