AAA: Thanksgiving travel should be highest since ’07

PROVIDENCE – AAA Travel is projecting that 46.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving weekend, a 4 percent increase over last year.
That also would mark the highest volume for the holiday since 2007, AAA said.
AAA said that nearly 90 percent of travelers (41.3 million) will celebrate the holiday with a road trip, where they will find the lowest gasoline prices in four years. Gasoline prices locally are under $3 a gallon. Nearly 40 million people traveled by car last year.
The Thanksgiving travel period is considered to be Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 30.
Air travel also is expected to be at the highest level in seven years with 3.55 million Americans boarding planes for the holiday.
Americans are expected to spend an average of $573 during the holiday weekend.
Travelers from New England tend to stay closer to home, according to AAA, but the region will see a 3.9 percent increase in overall travel compared with 2013.
“This year, more Americans will give thanks for the opportunity to travel to friends and family than any year since 2007,” Lloyd P. Albert, AAA Southern New England senior vice president of public and government affairs, said in a statement. “Americans are more optimistic about the future as improvements in several key economic factors, including employment, [gross domestic product] and disposable income, are boosting consumer confidence and the desire to travel.”
“Holiday joy has come early this year with Americans paying the lowest gas prices since 2010. Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to carve out more money from household budgets for travel this Thanksgiving,” Albert added.
Seventy percent of travelers reported that they will enjoy dining during their vacation and 59 percent will go shopping. Eighty-nine percent of travelers plan to spend time with friends and family this Thanksgiving holiday, AAA said.

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