Consumers' response to price increases : evidence from gasoline markets

Understanding how consumers respond to price increases is key when designing price-related policies. Using microdata on vehicle usage and paid fuel prices, I analyze consumers' response, focusing on three channels of mitigation: distance driven, fuel efficiency, and search. On average, consumers mitigate 38 percent of a price increase through these channels. Reducing distance driven is the primary channel of mitigation. Increased search efforts mitigate up to 11 percent of a price increase. Response levels vary significantly with newer vehicles' owners mitigating up to 88 percent of a price increase, while older vehicle owners achieve can mitigate up to 45 percent.