Sluggish Economy Makes For Faster July 4th Road Trips - Even On A Budget

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

“Fewer drivers will take to the road during the Independence Day holiday in part due to a sluggish economy, but also because people will take less time off,” the AAA told Reuters.

Gas is around 10 cents a gallon higher than last year, but that’s not what’s keeping Americans off the highways.

Americans are worried about the effects of the spending cuts, and hits from higher taxes because of the expiring Social Security tax cut this year, the wire says. \

The calendar also plays a role. July 4 fell on a Wednesday last year, which led people to take a longer vacation. This year, it’s on a Thursday.

Good for those who hot the roads nonetheless. Fewer people, fewer traffic jams!

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • LeeK LeeK on Jun 20, 2013

    Every season AAA makes these prognostications and the press dutifully reports them. I have always wondered why that is. Is this news? Does anybody ever go back and check if what they predicted turned out to be true? If so, how do they possibly measure it scientifically? I strikes me that it's simply, like, their opinion, man (apologies to The Dude). Like guaranteed news blurb each Monday about the previous weekend's movie revenues, these press releases don't offer up much more than speculation and probably have more to do with keeping the AAA name out there to promote the organization.

  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Jun 20, 2013

    It sounds to me like the AAA guy is just speaking out of his as. He said the social security tax cut expiration will cause fewer people to take vacations. But when the SS tax cut went into effect back around 2010- did people really take more vacations? I doubt it. He said taht Jul 4th fell on a Wednesday last year, and falls on a thursday this year. I don't understand how that's going to cause fewer people to travel this year. If anything, most people probably have a 4 day long weekend off this year, instead of 2 days off in the middle of the week like it was last year.

    • Danio3834 Danio3834 on Jun 21, 2013

      If it has a real net effect on people's budget one way or ther other, it would likely affect their spending habits, which could include vacations. Sounds like you're just interested in defending the administration's tax policy.

  • Skor Skor on Jun 20, 2013

    Wow! This story, and the comments, are loaded with Tea-Party derp...I'm not even going to being trying to pick most of these statements apart because, like my poor, little East European grandma use to say to me, "Never argue with the stupid or insane." That said, I just can't pass this one up. "MOST Americans don’t care what the price of gas is and that they’ll buy it no matter what the cost." Right, because they can they can make their incomes increase at will. Yes, people can mitigate against rising gas prices in the short term by obtaining more fuel efficient vehicles and diverting discretionary income. In the long run they may be able to increase their income, and society may be able to increase efficiency overall, but eventually, lots of people are going to be doing a lot less driving if fuel costs continue to rise in real terms.

  • Jimbob457 Jimbob457 on Jun 20, 2013

    Loved your video. In today's almost unimaginably rich world, jokes about worn out machinery have a certain charm. Schadenfruede without any guilt.

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