According to local U.S. media reports, gas prices in the United States continue to fall, with gasoline prices in at least 24 states across the country having dropped below two dollars per gallon. The American Automobile Association (AAA) stated that the number of people traveling by car during this year's Christmas holiday is expected to set a record.
AAA pointed out that many regions across the U.S. will experience one of the busiest holiday travel seasons in years, with the number of people traveling by car expected to increase by 4%, the highest growth rate in five years.
Tracie Lawrence, a travel official for AAA in South Carolina, stated that many people who might have stayed home for the holidays are choosing to travel due to lower gasoline costs; some residents also mentioned that they have already spent the money saved on gas on Christmas gifts.
In addition, since both Christmas and New Year's Day fall on a Thursday, many office workers may also choose to take the following Friday off, making the travel period longer than in previous years. Although the cost of road travel has decreased, airfares have not seen a decline comparable to that of gasoline prices.
