ALEXANDRIA, Va. – With crude oil prices now hovering around $75 per barrel, there are real concerns on how higher oil prices could affect everything from the stock market to demand at the pump. To help cut through the clutter, a new NACS report focuses on what drivers say about gas prices.

Among the issues covered in the report are whether consumers are more affected by whether prices are high or whether they are increasing/decreasing. The report also looks at consumer perceptions of the industry and how it sells fuels.

These insights are highlighted in a new NACS report, “What Consumers Think About Gas Prices (PDF),” available for download. By taking a deep dive into economic sentiment, the report reveals consumer perceptions related to gas prices and the economy overall.

The report also features conveniences that are of interest to consumers, such as automated checkout technologies, food trucks, mobile ordering and meal kits.

“Gas prices are transparent, meaning they are posted daily on signs, websites, social media and apps so consumers can choose where they fill-up. Add to the mix the regular drumbeat of gas prices rising or not falling fast enough in consumers’ minds and you can see why refueling is such a regular part of daily conversations. We want to add transparency to the process and encourage retailers to share this report with their customers and in social media,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

The report is the first of three new reports that will be added to the NACS Fuels Resource Center that examines consumer perceptions and insights related to fueling.