CONSUMER BRIEFS / AUTOS

Yes, $3-a-gallon gas is back in Southern California. And a study by Kelley Blue Book indicates that it’s starting to affect car shoppers.

Kelley, the Irvine-based auto information firm, surveyed new car shoppers in May about gas prices and found that more than 60% had changed their buying approach because of rising pump prices, with many saying they would make compromises in their choice of a new vehicle in order to save money on gas.

The No. 1 compromise was moving to a smaller engine (getting a four-cylinder instead of a V6 or V8). That was followed closely by vehicle size (moving down to a mid-size sedan from a larger model, for instance).

Significantly, 87% of new-car shoppers said that they were expecting gas prices to rise, compared with 66% in April, and 73% said they planned to change their spending habits if gas prices went much higher.