CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS UP THIS YEAR... AND TRIPLE A SAYS THAT MEANS SO WILL THANKSGIVING TRAVEL.

The average this year we're showing travelers spending over 700 dollars for the trip. its actually up from last year.

BUT THE METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION IS CHANGING- EVEN WITH HIGHER GAS PRICES- AN AVERAGE OF 50 CENTS MORE A GALLON THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

CAR TRAVEL OVER THANKSGIVING IS EXPECTED TO GO UP 2.1 PERCENT OVER LAST
THANKSGIVING, WHILE AIR TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE BY 6.7 PERCENT-EVEN THOUGH FLIGHTS ARE SLIGHTLY MORE AFFORDABLE THEN LAST YEAR- IT'S STILL TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR MANY PASSENGERS.

Comparing the places to fly and then with the baggage and parking, the economy lot. Everything adds up.

In addition to the cost, there's also an aggravation factor now associated with air travel, those so called convenience fees that airlines are charging.

We find that consumers typically want to gauge, this is how much I'm going to spend. They may save for it or budget towards it and if that gets thrown off
that, it really can disrupt their trip or add additional stress.

REGARDLESS OF HOW AMERICANS GET TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE THIS YEAR- THE GOOD NEWS ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A IS- THEY ARE GOING, A POSITIVE SIGN HEADING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M SAMANTHA HAYES.