Many US consumers are changing their lifestyles and becoming more energy efficient to save money during the current financial climate, a new report suggests.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), motorists are turning their backs on "gas-guzzling" sports utility vehicles and opting for smaller vehicles, AFP reports.

There is also evidence that consumers already struggling with debt are driving and flying less, choosing cheaper modes of transport such as trains and buses, the report found.

David Fyfe, head of the oil industry and markets division at the IEA, told AFP: "There's a growing body of evidence that high prices in conjunction with weakening economic conditions are having an impact on people's lifestyles."

The report revealed that US citizens are even moving away from suburbs and into urban centers to be closer to their places of work, thereby reducing the amount of money they spend on travel.

In July, total US consumer debt excluding mortgages reached $2.587 trillion, according to figures from the Federal Reserve.

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