Holiday Tourists Won't Catch A Break At The Gas Pumps
Tourists taking to the highways over the Fourth of July weekend, shouldn't expect to catch a break at the gas pumps.
Tammy Heppner from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) informs me they are expecting prices of gas to increase five to 10 cents from where they are now ($4.08) by the time the holiday weekend rolls around, an assessment consistent with the Short-Term Energy Outlook, which projects $4.13 a gallon in July and $4.15 in August.
Heppner, responding through an email, thinks``the lower gasoline demand seen this spring and a decrease in travelers over Memorial Day weekend would suggest that travel would be down versus 2007 for the July 4th weekend.’’
The American Automobile Association (AAA), meanwhile reports today there will be a decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Fourth of July holiday travel period, the first decline this decade.
``Clearly gas prices are continuing to take a toll on the traveler’s budget, but the travel industry is responding, as they have in the past, with discounts, promotions and other incentives to get people traveling this holiday” AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet wrote through a press release. “For instance travelers should look out for free gas card offerings, breakfast promotions, kids-eat-free deals, car rental discounts and, of course, always ask about AAA member discounts.”
Other highlights from the AAA Press Release:
1.) AAA projects 40.45 million Americans will still travel during the July 4th holiday weekend, down 1.3 percent, or nearly 550,000 Americans, from the 41 million who traveled last year
2.) Approximately 4.54 million Americans (11 percent of holiday travelers) expect to travel by airplane, a 2.3 percent decrease from the 4.64 million who flew last year. Nearly 1.7 million plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation
And for you nostalgia buffs wondering how much gasoline cost at the pumps in previous years, consider that 10 years ago, gas averaged $1.04 per gallon on July 6th, 1998; and only three years ago, consumers were averaging $2.18 at the pumps on July 4th, 2005, according to the EIA historical data
Maybe John McCain and Barack Obama will strike a cord with voters if they slip on one of those old Texaco suits and become full-service attendants over the holiday weekend.
-Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net
Tammy Heppner from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) informs me they are expecting prices of gas to increase five to 10 cents from where they are now ($4.08) by the time the holiday weekend rolls around, an assessment consistent with the Short-Term Energy Outlook, which projects $4.13 a gallon in July and $4.15 in August.
Heppner, responding through an email, thinks``the lower gasoline demand seen this spring and a decrease in travelers over Memorial Day weekend would suggest that travel would be down versus 2007 for the July 4th weekend.’’
The American Automobile Association (AAA), meanwhile reports today there will be a decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Fourth of July holiday travel period, the first decline this decade.
``Clearly gas prices are continuing to take a toll on the traveler’s budget, but the travel industry is responding, as they have in the past, with discounts, promotions and other incentives to get people traveling this holiday” AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet wrote through a press release. “For instance travelers should look out for free gas card offerings, breakfast promotions, kids-eat-free deals, car rental discounts and, of course, always ask about AAA member discounts.”
Other highlights from the AAA Press Release:
1.) AAA projects 40.45 million Americans will still travel during the July 4th holiday weekend, down 1.3 percent, or nearly 550,000 Americans, from the 41 million who traveled last year
2.) Approximately 4.54 million Americans (11 percent of holiday travelers) expect to travel by airplane, a 2.3 percent decrease from the 4.64 million who flew last year. Nearly 1.7 million plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation
And for you nostalgia buffs wondering how much gasoline cost at the pumps in previous years, consider that 10 years ago, gas averaged $1.04 per gallon on July 6th, 1998; and only three years ago, consumers were averaging $2.18 at the pumps on July 4th, 2005, according to the EIA historical data
Maybe John McCain and Barack Obama will strike a cord with voters if they slip on one of those old Texaco suits and become full-service attendants over the holiday weekend.
-Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net
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