Mississippi drivers approach tipping point as gas costs strain households

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi drivers may still be about 80 cents from their stated breaking point at the pump, but many middle-class residents say rising gas prices are already cutting into daily life, a new survey found.

The survey by Advance America found Mississippi drivers said they would begin cutting back on essentials when gas reaches $4.56 per gallon. As of April 7, prices averaged $3.76, and the study surveyed 3,002 drivers nationally.

In Mississippi, lifestyle expenses were often the first to go: 41% of respondents said they would cut back on dining out or takeout and 29% pointed to travel and leisure. More concerning trade-offs included 13% who said they would reduce grocery spending and 3% who said they would cut back on health care or medications.

Residents also report day-to-day adjustments to cope. About 40% said they would drive less, 19% would combine trips or plan routes more carefully, and 17% said they would take on extra work or find side income. Fewer said they would switch to public transportation (8%), carpool (7%) or change jobs to shorten commutes (5%).

Financial pressure is mounting: 49% said they feel extremely or very stressed about fuel costs, 33% reported moderate stress, 37% said rising gas prices have forced them to rely on credit or borrowing, and 43% said they have canceled plans because of fuel costs. “Gas prices don’t just hit wallets — they change behavior,” said Laura McCutcheon, vice president of marketing at Advance America. The survey also found wide state variation, with Vermont respondents reporting a threshold of $4.28 per gallon and Alaska respondents the highest tolerance at $6.02 per gallon. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.