ND1123114

Title: AAA Projects 42.5 Million Americans Will Travel This Thanksgiving

Description: Automobile travel increases 4% this holiday and remains the dominant mode of transportation.

Page Content: WASHINGTON ? Despite continued economic uncertainty more Americans are expected to choose family over finances resulting in first significant increase in any holiday travel this year. AAA forecasts 42.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a 4% increase from the 40.9 million people who traveled one year ago.

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?Driving AAA?s projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years,? said Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services, in a press release. ?As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality.?

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This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year. ?Memorial Day travel was statistically flat while Independence Day and Labor Day travel experienced decreases of 2.5% and 2.4% , respectively,? said Sutherland.

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Approximately 38.2 million people (90% of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation?s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a 4% bump compared to Thanksgiving 2010 when auto travelers totaled 36.8 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for holiday travelers as it is often more affordable, convenient and flexible. The current national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is approximately $3.39 per gallon, about 50 cents more than one year ago. However, the national average price is about 60 cents less than this year?s peak price of $3.98 on May 5.

Content Subject: Petroleum Retailing

Formatted Article Date: November 23, 2011

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