AAA: Less People Traveling For Independence Day

DETROIT (WWJ) - AAA forecasts 39 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day weekend, a 2.5 percent decline from the 40 million people who traveled a year ago. The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4.

According to Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services, the slight decline in the number of holiday travelers is mainly due to fuel prices being approximately one dollar per gallon higher than last year.

As a result, the percentage of travelers with a household income of $50,000 or less is expected to decrease from 41 percent to 33 percent, while travelers with a household income of more than $100,000 are expected to increase to 35 percent from 26 percent.

A survey of intended travelers found that 56 percent said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans. For the remaining 44 percent who said rising gas prices would impact their travel plans, seven out of 10 will economize in other areas and three out of 10 are planning to take a shorter trip or travel by a different mode of transportation.

The same survey also found the average distance traveled by Americans during the Independence Day holiday weekend is expected to be 573 miles, which is seven percent less than last year's average travel distance of 617 miles. Median spending is expected to be $807, an increase of 25 percent from $644 last year.

AAA's projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight.