NATIONWIDE — With the national average for a gallon of gas now costing a record $4.32 per gallon, up 7 cents from a day earlier, consumers are beginning to alter their behavior. Almost 75% of American drivers say that $5 gas prices will prompt them to adjust their lifestyles, according to a new survey the American Automobile Association released Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.32, up 7 cents from a day earlier

  • California has the highest-priced gas in the country, averaging $5.69 per gallon

  • 75% of American drivers say that $5 gas will prompt them to drive less, combine trips or carpool

  • Consideration of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles has increased 18% in the last week

The majority say they will drive less. While 18- to 34-year-olds say they will consider carpooling, older Americans are more likely to combine trips and errands and to reduce shopping or dining out, the survey found.

Summer travel, however, is less likely to be affected by higher gas prices. The AAA survey found that 52% of Americans plan to take a summer vacation, with about half of them saying they will not change their plans based on gas prices.

Gas prices have been increasing steadily since the turn of the year and have accelerated since Russia invaded Ukraine. The national average of the price of gas has increased 70 cents in the last two weeks. In California, prices have risen by 83 cents.

While California is the only state that has passed $5 per gallon with an average of $5.69, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii and Arizona are all rapidly approaching that point, according to the website Gasbuddy.com.

Owners of less fuel-efficient vehicles are feeling the largest effects of a gallon of gas costing $1.50 more than it did just a year ago. Drivers of full-size SUVs are paying about $110 more each month to drive their vehicles, according to Kelley Blue Book, while driving a full-size pickup now costs $100 more per month.

All drivers of gas-powered cars are feeling the effects. Even drivers of the smallest subcompact and compacts are paying $54 to $60 more per month compared to a year ago. Hybrid drivers have seen their monthly gas costs increase by $40 per month.

Because of escalating gas prices, American car shoppers are also considering more fuel-efficient vehicles. Consideration of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles increased 18% over the past week, according to Edmunds.com.

Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 2.6% of all new vehicles purchased in 2021, up from 1.9% in 2020.

While EVs are benefiting from increased interest because of increasing gas prices, consumers’ ability to buy them remains constrained amid an ongoing computer chip shortage and the conflict in Ukraine, which is complicating an already disrupted global supply chain for automakers.