Lower gasoline prices are driving more Southern Californians to drive — and fly — this holiday weekend.
The Automobile Club of Southern California predicts that more than 2.98 million Southland residents will travel for the Fourth of July weekend, a 0.5% increase from last year. That’s the second-highest number of travelers in the last 15 years, the Auto Club said.
Gasoline prices are 60 cents a gallon lower than at this time last year, with the average California price at $3.45 a gallon.
In addition to lower fuel prices, the projected travel increase is attributed to a growing sense of well-being among consumers because of a strengthening economy, declining unemployment and improving wages and housing values.