The average cost for a gallon of gas is nearly $4, up more than a dollar from a year ago. A new USA TODAY/Gallup poll says that one in seven Americans are experiencing a financial hardship thanks to high gas prices. More than half of those surveyed say they have had to make major changes to their budgets and habits because of the cost of fuel. Those changes include cutting back on vacations and taking shorter driving trips. USA TODAY says that one in five feel that their standard of living is jeopardized because of the impact from the pump.

Amazingly, seven states have seen gas prices surpass July 2008 records of $4.11  a gallon. And the poll found that many people are expecting to see prices go even higher. More than one in four believe that the cost for a gallon of gas will increase by another 75 cents or more. The Christian Science Monitor says that a new survey commissioned by the Consumer Federation of America found that three out of four Americans think improving fuel economy standards in automobiles is important. The majority believe federal legislation requiring automakers to meet a 60 mpg standard by 2025 is a good move. That would save US drivers an estimated $101 billion a year in fuel costs. “Gas prices are the main driver of smaller vehicle or more fuel-efficient vehicle purchases,” Camryn Craig, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book, told The Christian Science Monitor.

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