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A stronger labor market, lower gas prices and more spending money all will affect Labor Day travel volume, expected to be the highest since 2008, AAA said.
AAA forecasts an estimated 35.5 million Americans will travel between Sept 3-7, a 1 percent increase from 2014.
Of those, about 86 percent will drive and about 7 percent plan to fly. “Another mode of travel” accounts for the remaining approximately 7 percent.
AAA said when Labor Day weekend falls later in September, travel is usually down. This year is an exception, and that's due to low fuel costs, the group said. Gas prices this year are the lowest for mid-August in a decade, AAA said, and will result in last-minute travel plans for many.
Gas in New Jersey, with its low fuel taxes, is averaging $2.17 per gallon compared to New York ($2.62) and Connecticut ($2.58).
“Falling gas prices spell good news for Labor Day travelers, who will benefit from the lowest end-of-summer prices at the pump in a decade, and are paying more than a dollar less for regular unleaded fuel than a year ago at this time,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast’s Public Affairs spokesperson.
AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 61 offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York providing more than 5.2 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance and auto-related services.
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