How much are you spending on gas?

Guess what: rising energy prices are taking a toll on consumers.

Fox News released a monthly poll Wednesday night that shines similar light on President Barack Obama's downward-trending job approval and voters' concerns about the federal debt. 

By John R. Conway:Sometimes high gas prices can put a drag on the market, since lower consumer spending can affect companies due to higher gas prices. With consumers shifting more money towards their vehicle's fuel cost, consumers could cut the amount of discretionary spending where they feel will be the most useful.

February marks the first three-months of consecutive declines in restaurant sales in almost three years as Bloomberg reports consumers caught in "an emotional moment" spooked by higher payroll taxes, surging healthcare premia, and spiking energy costs. "February was pretty ugly" for many chains after January delivered an initial blow."

The recent spike in gas prices has caused plenty of griping about pain at the pump, but a new surv

Personally, I prefer coffee to tea and the voters agree: And although a combined 22 percent of poll-takers name the deficit/government spending as the top issue the federal government should address, 37 percent believe job creation/economic growth is the No. 1 issue. [...]

China, consuming energy at the fastest pace among major economies, has set ambitious targets to exploit its reservoirs of shale gas, the same fuel the U.S. touts as the means to energy independence. It won’t meet them.