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A strong labor market, lower gas prices and more spending money will all affect Labor Day travel volume, expected to be the highest since 2008.
AAA forecasts an estimated 35.5 million Americans will travel between Thursday and Wednesday, a one percent increase over 2014.
Of those 86 percent will drive, and 7.5 percent plan to fly. “Another mode of travel” accounts for the remaining 6.8 percent.
AAA says when Labor Day weekend falls later in September, travel is usually down. But this year is an exception, and that's due to low fuel costs. Gas prices this year are the lowest for mid-August in a decade, AAA says, and will result in last-minute travel plans for many.
Gas in New York is $2.62 per gallon average; Connecticut is at $2.58, and New Jersey with its low fuel taxes, $2.17.
“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,” says 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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