Q. Are high prices changing people’s driving habits?

A little bit, but not enough to drive prices down. According to the federal energy agency report issued two weeks ago, domestic gasoline consumption is expected to decline this year for the first time since 2001. The EIA predicts a 0.3 percent decrease for the year and a 0.4 percent decrease for the summer.

According to AAA, nearly a quarter of Americans have made some changes to their vacation travel plans. According to a national survey of members released last week, 7 percent canceled their vacations, while another 17 percent revised their plans.

“The high gas prices have been around for quite some time now, and people are anticipating it and working it into their budgets,” said Nicole Niemi, spokeswoman for AAA Chicago, which includes the Rockford area.

If there’s a threshold where people will make major cuts in their driving habits, it hasn’t been reached yet, said Niemi.

About three-quarters of respondents said they would conserve gas by consolidating shopping trips when possible. About 30 percent said they were performing routine maintenance more often on their vehicles, while another 30 percent said they’re driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

Q. What about people taking vacations far away?
Travel agents are seeing a decline in business, mostly because of the overall downturn in the economy and the falling dollar, said Cindy Nicolosi, owner of Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s Roscoe franchise.

“After 9/11, prices (of vacation travel) really went down to encourage people to travel. They’ve been steadily increasing, but people got used to those lower prices and expect those kind of deals,” Nicolosi said.

Q. What about hotels?
Local hotels and recreational facilities are benefiting as people from the Chicago area take weekend trips in lieu of longer vacations farther away.

Arthur Cooper, sales and marketing director for CoCo Key Water Resort and the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center, said he expected a 15 percent increase in water-park packages this spring because of high gas prices and increased marketing. It saw more than twice that.

“That is wonderful. I wish I had more weekends,” Cooper said. “They’re just taking that hour-and-a-half drive to Rockford to have a nice weekend versus the long, expensive trip to Disney World. I love Disney World, but I’d rather people come here.”