More Americans Will Stay Home for Labor Day

Following a trend that saw Americans scrapping their travel plans over Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July, the last true holiday of the summer will see an expected 0.9% decrease in travel compared to last year.

The drop in Labor Day vacation travel is the largest in eight years, according to AAA, and reflects the high cost of fuel and larger economic trends. Gas prices, at roughly $3.70 per gallon, are 33% higher than they were this time last year. Furthermore, with basic commodity prices on the rise, travel seems like a luxury fewer Americans can afford.

The number of people traveling by car will fall to 28.64 million — a 1.1% decrease from last year. The worst news lands at the feet of the already-hurting airline industry, which will see a 4.5% decline in air travel.

What are your plans for Labor Day? If you've changed your plans and are staying home, or if you've decided to travel farther than 50 miles, let us know in the comments.

Americans Skip Labor Day Trips as Costs Rise (USA Today)

Comments

Labor day holiday will be a staycation. One extended automobile trip-vacation in late June has maxed us out and altered our additional travel plans. Current petrol prices and rising inflation on all fronts force us to pull in the reigns on discretionary spending. Sure hope the fall TV programs and football games are good.

Isn't the truth, on this coming Labor Day Weekend, i will be lucky if I travel two miles to my sister's house for dinner, other than that, we have no money for anything and I would bet that this is basically for most American's.

It will be the trend for at least the next few years with high gas prices, high food prices, high heat and A/c and more...

The way the motor industry is declining there will be a lot of people staying at home permantly in the near future!