About 46.9 million people in the U.S. are expected to travel between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays, with most traveling by motor vehicle.
Michael Right is the vice president for Public Affairs for the Missouri region of the American Automobile Association, or AAA. He says this will be the most travelers the country has seen during the holidays since 2007.
“In addition to the increased number of folks traveling they’re are going to be enjoying some relatively low gasoline prices. In the state of Missouri we’re looking at a $1.90 9 [per gallon] and that compares to last year at this time when it was 2.66,” Right said.
In addition to the 75 cent/gallon difference across the state, Springfield area gas prices for the upcoming holiday are projected to be around $1.87. Last year the region was at $2.55.
Right credits the increase in travel to the improved economic condition of the country.
“The family budget’s in much better shape the overall economy, unemployment is down, consumer confidence is up and so it’s a situation that frankly has been improving ever since we got into the recession in 2008,” Right said.
More information regarding gas prices and other travel-related details can be found at the AAA website.