YOU HEAR IT EVERY YEAR NOW … AND IT AFFECTS ALL OF YOU GETTING READY TO TAKE A TRIP FOR THE HOLIDAY: THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELING 50 MILES OR MORE FROM HOME OVER CHRISTMAS IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR … AND NEW MEXICO AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST REGION IS NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
DOUG SHUPE WITH TRIPLE-A NEW MEXICO SAYS THE INCREASE HASN'T BEEN HUGE, BUT THIS IS THE 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE AUTO CLUB HAS ESTIMATED MORE PEOPLE TAKING EXTENDED HOLIDAY TRIPS. 7-POINT-2 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE GOING SOMEWHERE FAR THIS YEAR … UP 5-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.
MEANWHILE, AIR TRAVEL IS DOWN AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TO THEIR DESTINATIONS … MAINLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO DO THAT OVER CHRISTMAS.
