Labor Day Travel Expected to be Up 5% Despite High Gas Costs

1 September 2000

Labor Day Travel Expected to be Up 5% Despite High Gas Costs

    HOUSTON--Aug. 31, 2000--An estimated 33.7 million Americans are expected to travel 100 miles or more from home this Labor Day holiday, up nearly 5 percent over last year despite continued high gas prices, according to AAA.
    The AAA Fuel Gauge Report shows the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline today is $1.51 per gallon. Motorists in Texas are paying an average of $1.44 a gallon -- an increase of more than 25 cents over last year. "Despite the higher pump prices, many of our members say they are still heading out this Labor Day to take advantage of the last holiday of the summer season," according to Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas.
    Approximately 28.3 million plan to travel by automobile, light truck or recreational vehicle, nearly 6 percent higher than last year's 26.8 million motorists. Holiday travel by air, bus, rail or ship is expected to reach 5.4 million, the same number as last Labor Day. The record for Labor Day holiday travel is 34.9 million that was set in 1997.
    AAA's Labor Day travel projections are based on a national travel survey of 1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.

    Below: AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report as of Aug. 31, 2000



NATIONAL PRICES            REGULAR         MID     PREMIUM      DIESEL
 UNLEADED
Current Avg.               $150.86     $160.18     $165.98     $158.00
Month Ago Avg.             $151.69     $161.09     $166.93     $149.10
Year Ago Avg.              $125.39     $133.18     $137.93     $123.91

TEXAS PRICES               REGULAR         MID     PREMIUM      DIESEL
 UNLEADED
Current Avg.               $144.45     $152.82     $158.32     $151.52
Month Ago Avg.             $148.01     $156.58     $162.22     $142.03
Year Ago Avg.              $117.01     $123.79     $128.24     $116.80

	   Prices are in U.S. cents per gallon

Texas Metro Averages As of Aug. 31, 2000 (Unleaded Self Serve Regular)

                           Current   Month Ago    Year Ago

Austin-San Marcos          $143.49      146.77      113.33

Dallas                     $146.31      151.16      117.90

El Paso                    $138.43      141.83      121.76

Ft Worth-Arlington         $144.56      150.11      115.91

Houston                    $147.35      152.66      117.24

San Antonio                $136.26      141.83      113.34