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May 21, 2008 2:07 pm US/Eastern
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Fewer Travelers Expected This Memorial Day
TRENTON (AP) ―
If you'll be traveling for the Memorial Day holiday
weekend, you may have a little less company. Analysts blame the rising costs of gasoline and accommodations and
travel in general.
Fuel prices and economic uncertainty appear to be putting
the brakes on travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in New Jersey for the first time since the 9/11
attacks.
AAA Mid-Atlantic estimates about 45,000 fewer Garden State
residents will travel this holiday weekend than during the same period in 2007.
The numbers reflect fewer people on the roads. AAA also predicts slightly fewer travelers will use
buses, train or other mass transit.
Those who hit the roads will pay a record $3.69
a gallon for regular gasoline in New
Jersey. That's 73 cents a gallon more than Memorial
Day 2007.
AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts about 91,700 Delaware residents will travel
at least 50 miles for the weekend, but that number is down nearly one percent
from last year. That's similar to projections for the entire country.
Gasoline prices in Delaware are averaging $3.81 per gallon, 78 cents
higher than this time last year. According to a poll by AAA Mid-Atlantic, 61
percent of its members say gas prices will change their summer vacation plans.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)