Feature Story

October 2, 2008

Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Below-Poverty Commuters

From Urban Institute:

While the increase in gas prices has increased costs for all commuters, workers from households whose income is below the federal poverty level pay a larger proportion of their income for gas.

This fact sheet uses data from the 2006 American Community Survey to quantify the relative burden of gas use for commuting.

While the increase in gas prices has increased costs for all commuters, workers from households whose income is below the federal poverty level pay a larger proportion of their income for gas.

This fact sheet uses data from the 2006 American Community Survey to quantify the relative burden of gas use for commuting.

The estimated numbers may actually understate the relative burden on the poor, since we assume exactly the same gas mileage for commuters in the two groups---if lower-income people tend to have older, less well-maintained (therefore, less fuel-efficient) cars, they will tend to get lower gas mileage.

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