The FINANCIAL — Americans appear slightly more likely to travel this holiday season than they were a year ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 17% of Adults say they are planning to travel away from home during the holiday season, up from 14% last year at this time. Seventy-eight percent (78%) have no travel plans, comparable to findings in December 2008.
Ten percent (10%) say they are more likely to travel this holiday season compared to previous years, while 51% say they are less likely to do so. Thirty-five percent (35%) say their travel plans are about the same. This, too, looks a lot like two years ago, whereas last December only seven percent (7%) were more likely to travel and 62% were less likely.
The economy seems slightly less to blame this year as well. Forty-two percent (42%) say the bad economy makes them less likely to travel this holiday season compared to years past, but 49% say that’s not the case for them. In December 2009, the responses were even on this question.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of those who plan to travel over the holiday season are more likely to go by car, while 30% say they’re more likely to travel by plane. Six percent (6%) are more likely to opt for a bus.
Thirty-five percent (35%) have friends and family traveling to their home this holiday season. Fifty-eight percent (58%) are not expecting company. That marks little change from last year at this time.
Women are slightly more likely than men to be traveling away from home this holiday season. Those ages 30 to 49 are more likely to be on the road than those in other age groups.
Americans who have children living with them appear slightly more inclined to travel this year rather than to host visitors in their homes. Those with children are also more likely than those without to blame the bad economy for limiting their travel plans.
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