COLUMBUS – Comforted by a strong economy, more Americans than ever are expected to travel over the 10-day Christmas and New Year’s holiday period and that will include millions of Ohioans.
Auto club AAA says that 4.5 million Ohioans will travel 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1, AAA Ohio spokeswoman Kim Schwind says. That is a 3.6 percent increase over last year, even though the holiday period is a day shorter than in 2016.
Nationally, 107 million people will travel over the year-end holidays, a 3.1 percent increase over last year and the ninth straight increase in Christmas travel.
Steady economic growth is behind the increase as stronger employment, rising incomes, low prices for goods and services, and increasing household assets are all leading to more consumer spending, said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, Travel and Publishing.
AAA says most will travel by car — about 4.1 million Ohioans — despite higher gasoline prices. The average price in Columbus last week was 9 cents higher than last year. The price for a gallon of gas is 28 cents higher than last December but AAA analysts say drivers can expect pump prices to drop heading into the holiday season as supply strengthens and fall gasoline demand weakens.
AAA says while gas prices are higher, airfares and mid-range hotels are cheaper. The auto club expects more than 6 million Americans to fly and nearly 4 million will take trains, buses or cruise ships.
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting by research firm IHS Markit.