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Memorial Day is May 30, this coming Monday. Lots of people will get a three-day weekend, and some of them will want to spend it driving somewhere. AAA predicts that 34.9 million Americans will go on a trip that takes them at least 50 miles from home this weekend.
Traditionally, gas prices tend to rise in advance of Memorial Day. This year, it's been reported that prices are trending downward in a lot of places--oil inventories are high, and when that happens, gas prices fall. But the effect isn't uniform, and in a lot of major markets gas still costs a considerable amount. Here's a look at the prices in different regions as the holiday draws near.
Where Prices Are High
In Philadelphia, gas is "teetering at nearly $4 a gallon." A casual survey by The Philadelphia Inquirer found that while some Philly residents are staying home due to cost concerns, others plan to do some driving and economize elsewhere, visiting more modest hotels and restaurants. Some people, itchy of foot and light of pocket, will use public transportation to move around the Delaware Valley.
In Los Angeles, prices were at $4.12 a gallon this week--nothing to sneeze at. But SoCal residents are still planning to make the most of the weekend, reports the Los Angeles Times. Some are planning to fly instead of drive; some have strategies for where to find cheaper gas. "Southern Californians... are still planning to hit the road at about the same rate as last year," reports Hugo Martín for the Times.