Holiday Travel in the US to Reach Six-Year High

According to AAA, travel in the US during the winter holiday will increase 1.6% compared to 2011 and the most since the 2006-2007 season.

AAA, the US biggest motoring organization, said today, November 13th, that about 93.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles beginning December 22nd to January 1st, an increase from 91.8 million people traveling last year during the same period and he 4th consecutive gain.

“The primary economic indicators all show improvements from one year ago, but there does not exist the kind of strong consistent growth necessary to encourage stronger travel growth,” AAA said.

Auto travelers will account for 84.4 million of the total of holiday travelers, an increase of 1.3% from 2011 and the most in the organization’s records, which began in 2002. The number of air travelers will increase 4.6% to 5.6 million and air travel will account for 6% of all travel.

Americans are expected to spend almost $759 a household, an increase of 5.7% from $718 in 2011, to travel during the winter holidays. The estimated average traveled distance will be 760 miles, an increase from 726 miles registered last year. This year, regular gasoline at the pump went up 1.1% to $3.315 a gallon as of December 11th.