Gasoline prices stable for holiday travelers

Gasoline prices are stable as Texans travel for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with the average price for a gallon of unleaded in Beaumont up two cents from last week, according to information released Wednesday by AAA Texas.

The Beaumont average is $2.51, up two cents from last week. The average was $1.80 a gallon at this time last year. The record high in Beaumont was $4 a gallon in July of last year. 

HOUSTON - From AAA Texas - November 25, 2009  -- As Texans take to the road today for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, motorists will find, like last week, gas prices are 14 cents less than the national average, according to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.

Greeting this week’s Thanksgiving travelers are relatively stable gasoline prices.  The average price of regular unleaded gasoline increased 2 cents statewide compared to last week, from $2.48 to $2.50 a gallon.  The national average price for a gallon of self serve regular is $2.64.  This price is about a penny and half cheaper than the average price one month ago.

In Houston and Galveston travelers are paying the least for gas in Texas at an average of $2.45.  The state’s highest price is in El Paso at $2.61 – a decline of one cent from last week. 

Thanksgiving travel this week provides a unique opportunity to gauge the mood of U.S. motorists.  Nearly 12 percent of the Texas population is expected to drive an average of 1,100 miles over the holiday weekend – that’s about 300 miles more than the national average.  Based on AAA projections, the total number of nationwide travelers by automobile this year is expected to be 33.2 million, an increase of 2.1 percent compared to last year. 

According to AAA National, the increase in automobile travel shows some consumers are starting to return to their travel habits and that consumer confidence is starting to return in some measure.