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May 23, 2008

Gas goes up a lot, travel declines a little

High gasoline prices are convincing some people that closer is better when it comes to Memorial Day plans.

For the first time since 2002, AAA is forecasting a drop in the number of Memorial Day travelers that drive 50 miles or farther from home during this long weekend.

AAA attributed the 2002 decline to anxiousness from the terrorist attacks of the previous year. This year, the organization blames close-to-$4-a-gallon prices for a a 0.9 percent decrease in people traveling 50 miles or farther from home. Of those 37.8 million, 31.7 million are expected to drive –– a one percent decrease from last year.

Are gas prices affecting your Memorial Day weekend plans?

“Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch this holiday weekend from record high gasoline prices and other factors in the economy,” Lloyd P. Albert, of AAA Southern New England said in a statement.

“Despite the small national decrease, we will still see a significant number of people traveling over Memorial Day. More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will be celebrating the holiday weekend away from home.”

Air travel is also is also expected to be down from last year –– about 0.5 percent to 4.3 million travelers. About 1.8 million are expected to travel this Memorial Day by train, bus or other mode of transportation according to a survey done by the Travel Industry Association.

The Internet abounds with tools to help drivers navigate the costs of driving. AAA has a daily fuel cost calculator and fuel gauge report online. And gasbuddy.com also lists costs at different stations. For more general information on retail gas prices across the country, the Department of Energy keeps tabs. The DOE also has a brief primer on oil and gas prices, to help consumers figure out just why the soupy remains of plants and animals from millions of years ago cost so much money.

Check Rhode Island traffic.

Check Cape Cod traffic.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 9:36 AM | Permalink

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R.R.H | May 24, 2008 12:17 PM link

Henry | May 27, 2008 8:58 AM link

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