Holiday travel outlook

According to the motor club AAA, escalating gas prices and gloomy weather predictions because of Hurricane Isaac are expected to dampen Labor Day holiday travel this weekend by South Carolinians. State residents planning to travel more than 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday travel period amount to 424 thousand, but that’s the same number of travelers as last year. South Carolina gas prices have increased an average of a penny a day since July 3. Motorists, who represent 85% of South Carolina travelers, will encounter sticker shock at the gas pumps in Georgia and North Carolina, where prices are 23 cents higher on average. Airfares have decreased four percent this year.