Near-record travel expected for Labor Day

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Though gas prices are rising, Labor Day travel<br>may reach the second highest figures ever, the AAA said Tuesday.<br> <br>An estimated 34,8 million Americans are expected to travel

Tuesday, August 24th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Though gas prices are rising, Labor Day travel
may reach the second highest figures ever, the AAA said Tuesday.

An estimated 34,8 million Americans are expected to travel 100
miles or more from home over the Labor Day holiday, a 2 percent
increase from last year. The vast majority of the travelers, 29.2
million, will go by car, said the AAA.

At the same time, the group's fuel gauge report shows a national
average increase of 8.1 cents a gallon for self-service unleaded
gas from a month ago. That increase -- to $1.255 a gallon -- is the
biggest from one month to another since prices soared 11.4 cents
after Iraq attacked Kuwait in 1990.

Last year the pre-Labor Day average price was $1.075 a gallon.

Some 23 percent of holiday travelers are planning to visit
cities, 20 percent rural areas and towns, 19 percent oceans and
beaches, and 14 percent are heading for the mountains.

The all-time high for Labor Day travel was reached in 1997 with
34.9 million travelers.

The numbers are based on a national survey with 1,500 adults by
the Travel Industry Association.