AAA Texas Says Thanksgiving Gas Prices Hit New Lows; More People Expected to Travel by Car Over Holiday
HOUSTON--Nov. 13, 2001--Motorists traveling for Thanksgiving holiday will get an early Christmas present -- substantially lower gasoline prices.The statewide average price for regular self-serve is $1.09 a gallon. A year ago, Texans were paying $1.43 a gallon.
Nationally, motorists are currently paying an average of $1.21 for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline, 34 cents lower than the $1.55 seen a year ago.
The continuing drop in fuel prices has some states, including Texas, flirting with an average gasoline price near the $1 mark. Prices in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia are at or below $1.10 a gallon this week.
"A soft economy and resulting lower demand for fuel continues to push gasoline prices lower," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "While some consumers may be hesitant about other forms of travel during the holiday, the lower gas prices are making driving to destinations more attractive.
"In fact, we expect to see a higher percentage of people traveling by motor vehicle this holiday than ever before -- 87 percent this Thanksgiving, compared to last year's 83 percent," said Rougeau.
Overall AAA estimates that all forms of travel will decline approximately 6% over the holiday with airlines accounting for the majority of the decline. Nationally nearly 35 million Americans plan to travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday as compared to 37 million who took a trip last Thanksgiving. Of those, 5 million plan to go by airplane, train or bus, compared to slightly more than 6 million last year.
Note: Attached Nov. 13, 2001 average price information for 17 Texas cities.
AAA Texas Monthly Fuel Gauge Report
Average price for a gallon of regular self-serve
in selected Texas cities
Metro State Nov. '01 Oct. '01 Sept. '01 Nov. '00
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Abilene TX 1.099 1.303 1.484 1.423
Amarillo TX 1.077 1.161 1.555 1.493
Austin TX 1.065 1.219 1.384 1.399
Beaumont TX 1.068 1.229 1.402 1.403
Brownsville TX 1.000 1.111 1.376 1.396
Corpus
Christi TX 1.010 1.127 1.368 1.398
Dallas TX 1.139 1.313 1.427 1.458
El Paso TX 1.167 1.279 1.443 1.383
Fort Worth TX 1.143 1.307 1.429 1.447
Houston TX 1.107 1.272 1.403 1.419
Laredo TX 1.247 1.331 1.432 1.468
Longview TX 1.138 1.220 1.456 1.430
Lubbock TX 1.036 1.225 1.477 1.520
Midland TX 1.081 1.253 1.414 1.499
Odessa TX 1.050 1.207 1.400 1.424
San Antonio TX 0.998 1.143 1.365 1.354
Waco TX 1.053 1.176 1.396 1.390
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Average TX 1.087 1.228 1.424 1.430
(Nov. '01) (Nov. '00)
---------- ----------
National $1.21 $1.55 down .34
Texas $1.09 $1.43 down .34
AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. AAA Texas offers its members a full service travel agency, auto-related and financial services, as well as public safety programs and legislative advocacy.