CHICAGO - Despite plummeting gas prices and unusual last-minute holiday deals on airplane tickets, more people are expected to stick close to home this Thanksgiving. In fact, the Automobile Association of America says the 41 million Americans expected to take trips at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving is about 600,000 less than traveled last Thanksgiving.
CHICAGO - Despite plummeting gas prices and unusual last-minute holiday deals on airplane tickets, more people are expected to stick close to home this Thanksgiving.
In fact, the Automobile Association of America says the 41 million Americans expected to take trips at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving is about 600,000 less than traveled last Thanksgiving.
The reason, as a surly economist might say? It's the economy, stupid.
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"The economy is in such bad shape. ... They're still really hesitant to take that trip," said Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for AAA Chicago.
In comparison, over the July 4 weekend when gas prices were far higher than the same weekend the previous year, the number oftravelers dropped just 2.3 percent, she said. At that time, the economic news wasn't as dire as it is now.
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