A recent poll conducted by Elabe for BFMTV reveals a significant shift in how French citizens perceive the causes of rising fuel prices. Currently, 62% of respondents hold the government responsible for the increase, surpassing the earlier belief that the war in Iran was the primary cause. This change follows a prolonged rise in fuel prices since the start of the conflict. In mid-March, only 45% blamed the government, while 60% still associated the price hikes with the war in Iran. Additionally, over half (52%) of the French now believe that oil companies also play a role in the rising fuel costs. This shift in public opinion has influenced the types of solutions people are calling for. Nearly 70% of respondents primarily want the government to lower fuel taxes, with this number rising to 88% among supporters of the National Rally, a political group that has long pushed to reduce the VAT on fuels from 20% to 5.5%. More than half (54%) of those surveyed mentioned blocking the price of gasoline as a solution, while 45% called for reducing the profit margins of oil companies—a stance more common among left-leaning groups like those led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Nearly one-third of respondents suggested reducing the margins of fuel distributors, while fewer supported direct financial aid for drivers, with around 15% in favor of such measures. Fuel costs have become one of the most significant inflationary pressures on French households, deeply affecting their purchasing power. Nearly half (46%) of the French believe the rise in fuel prices has significantly impacted their budgets, with the percentage increasing to 55% among those living in small towns and 61% in rural areas, where car use is more essential. More than 70% of the French expect their purchasing power to decline in the coming months—a sharp increase from the 50% who felt this way in June 2025. In recent years, the cost of travel has become the most notable expense for the French, with the percentage of people citing it as a significant concern rising from 25% in January 2025 to 46% in September 2026. This pressure has also led to changes in daily habits, with the use of cars (specifically gasoline) being the most reduced activity since January 2026, down by 11%. This decline is slightly higher than the reduction in the purchase of certain food products, which dropped by 10%.