AAA: Labor Day travel expected to drop

CHARLOTTE — Although gas prices have dropped sharply in the Carolinas this summer, Labor Day weekend travel is still expected to be down almost 1 percent from last year.

AAA Carolinas reported Wednesday it projects 720,300 North Carolina drivers will travel more than 100 miles this coming weekend. About 352,000 South Carolina drivers are expected to do
the same.

Auto club president David Parsons said gas prices have dropped every day for the past 39 days and are about 10 percent lower than during the Fourth of July weekend.

But gas is about 94 cents a gallon more than a year ago.

The statewide average for a gallon in North Carolina is almost $3.61. The South Carolina average is almost $3.45 a gallon. The national average is nearly $3.68 a gallon.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)