Record 47 million expected to travel for
U.S. July Fourth holiday: AAA
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[June 21, 2018]
By Jarrett Renshaw
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. travelers will
hit the roads, rails and airports in record numbers this Fourth of July
holiday, despite higher gasoline prices, the nation's largest automotive
advocacy group said on Thursday.
Some 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles (80 km) over the
upcoming July Fourth holiday, the fifth consecutive annual increase and
highest travel volume since the group began tracking data 18 years ago,
according to the AAA, or American Automobile Association.
The holiday period is defined this year as July 3 to July 8.
Gas prices have fallen a bit since the 2018 high of $2.97 a gallon set
over Memorial Day weekend, the last weekend in May. The national average
gas price was $2.87 on Wednesday, up 59 cents from a year ago.
Despite higher prices, automobile travel is expected to increase for the
fourth straight year, rising 5.1 percent or nearly 2 million more than
in 2017, to 39.7 million travelers, the AAA said.
“Confident consumers with additional disposable income will look to
spend on travel this holiday, building on an already busy summer travel
season," said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president, AAA Travel and
Publishing.

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People watch the Macy's 4th of July Firework Show from Brooklyn in
New York City, U.S., July 4, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Air travel volume will increase to 3.76 million passengers, 7.9
percent more than last year. With the holiday falling on a
Wednesday, air travel is helped by enabling more flexibility to fly
either before or after the holiday, the group said.

U.S. gasoline demand, which accounts for roughly 10 percent of
global demand, hit record highs last year thanks in part to a strong
summer driving season.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
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