Five out of six tanning salon owners say lower gas prices in 2009 will provide a much-needed boost to their tanning businesses, according to a new SmartTan.com poll.

Just 17 percent in the poll believe that lower gas prices will not help their business, as compared to 83 percent who believe it will help. The results are not scientific, but are highly directional.

Gasoline prices have fallen significantly as a result of worldwide economic adjustment. And small-ticket disposable items may be the biggest retail-based beneficiaries of lower gas prices. “Because small-ticket vanity items like tanning have historically weathered economic downturns well, there is every reason to believe that lower gasoline prices will be a big help to tanning businesses next year,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “It should mean that consumers have more disposable income for smaller items like tanning.”