Labor Day Travel/AAA Chicago

September 4, 2009 (PRESS RELEASE) Last year, 45.1 million Americans traveled during the Labor Day holiday weekend period; the most this decade. Despite this year's sizeable projected decline of 6 million travelers, AAA said it expects more Americans to travel this holiday than were projected to travel over this year's 4th of July holiday weekend. AAA projected 37.1 million Americans would travel during the Independence Day holiday; typically the busiest automobile travel holiday of the year. This will also be the third strongest weekend for Labor Day travel this decade. The second busiest year was 2003 when 41.6 million Americans took a Labor Day weekend trip. Last Labor Day weekend the nationwide average price of self-serve, regular gasoline dropped to $3.68 per gallon after peaking at an all-time record of $4.11 per gallon on July 17, AAA said. In Illinois and Indiana last year, gas prices (www.fuelgaugereport.com) were at $3.87 and $3.74 respectively. This combined with the earliness of the holiday and the emergence of end of summer discounts on travel, caused large numbers of travelers to make a last minute decision to take a holiday trip. This year, AAA expects the nationwide average price of self-serve, regular gasoline to be approximately one dollar per gallon less expensive than it was one year ago; or about $2.60 per gallon. In Illinois, drivers will pay about $2.68 per gallon and $2.54 in Indiana this Labor Day weekend. Continued discounts and deals offered by travel providers will also make Labor Day vacations attractive, AAA said.

"AAA expects this Labor Day holiday weekend to be the third busiest of the decade, even though the number of travelers will be down from one year ago," said Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago regional president. "However, with Labor day falling a week later this year when many children will have returned to school, the decline may more to do with the calendar than with the economy. Our forecast shows Labor Day travel (www.aaa.com) will be up over this summer's 4th of July holiday and that's a positive sign."

Four percent of Holiday vacationers are expected to travel by airline for Labor Day trips, while those traveling by automobile will increase to 84 percent, AAA said. Automobile vacations will be taken by 32.9 million travelers and air trips by only 1.5 million travelers. This will be the lowest number of trips by air this decade for the Labor Day holiday weekend. Those traveling by other modes - which can include trains, cruises, buses, RVs, personal watercraft, motorcycles, or trips that use multiple modes of travel - are expected to account for 4.8 million or 12 percent of Labor Day holiday travelers.

In the East North Central Region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, 7.3 million people are expected to travel for the Labor Day holiday, a 15.4 percent decrease compared to last year. In Illinois it is anticipated that more than 17 percent of the population, or 2.3 million people, will travel this Labor Day, a 21.5 percent decrease compared to last year. An estimated 1.9 million people will travel by auto and another 54,000 people will travel by air. In Indiana, more than 1.9 million people, or just over 14 percent of the population will travel this holiday weekend, which is over 22 percent less than last year. More than 783,000 will travel by motor vehicle; and 22,000 people will be flying to their destination.

Labor Day travelers expect to spend approximately $968 per household this upcoming holiday weekend. Transportation and accommodations will account for 47 percent of trip spending, while food and beverage will absorb another 22 percent of the holiday budget. Shopping, entertainment and recreation will account for 27 percent of spending on average. Labor Day travelers will journey an average of 645 miles roundtrip this upcoming holiday weekend. More than one third (37 percent) of travelers will stay relatively close to home, with expected round trips of 250 miles or less. Slightly more than one third (34 percent) of weekend travelers will log between 251 and 700 miles. And 28 percent will travel over 700 miles round trip.

According to 'AAAs Leisure Travel Index , airfares over the Labor Day holiday weekend are expected to decrease 17 percent from last year. Hotel rates are expected to be 12 percent less than last year. Car rental rates are up seven percent.

AAA's projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. For purposes of this forecast the Labor Day holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more from home in one direction during the period from Thursday, Sept. 3 to Monday Sept. 7. To read the complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2009 Labor Day holiday forecast: media.aaachicago.com/images/10032/Report.pdf