Fewer people are likely to travel this Labor Day weekend in the US compared to last year, as cheaper petrol and an abundance of getaway promotions will still make it a busy weekend a airports and on the roads.

US auto club AAA estimates that 39.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday September 3 and Monday September 7 as part of a survey of 1,350 people.  It works out to be six million less than last year, but a greater number of travellers who took to the roads between 2004 and 2007.

“With Labor Day falling almost a full week later in 2009, many children will have returned to school,” the auto club said in its report.

However, “this year’s Labor Day holiday travel is expected to show that the pull of the last long weekend of summer is stronger than the poor employment picture and the potential overlap with the school year. In fact, it just may be that many Americans are starting to feel a little more economically secure overall, leaving them freer to travel.”

US petrol prices have also fallen compared to last year, with a gallon of unleaded at $1.05 cheaper than what it was last year, according to AAA.

Thanks to AP for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.