The Travel Industry Association, which keeps track of such things, released the following dismaying report, just as the summer travel season is gearing up:
"The April Travel Price Index, TPI, rose 6.0 percent compared to April 2007. Gasoline prices increased 5.6 percent from March and jumped 21.1 percent
from one year ago. Lodging prices were up 0.8 percent compared to April 2007 and
down 2.2 percent from last month. Airfares increased 10.1 percent against twelve
months earlier and 0.9 percent from previous month. The Consumer Price Index, or
CPI-U, was up 3.9 percent from April 2007.
"Developed by TIA, the Travel Price Index (TPI) measures the seasonally
unadjusted inflation rate of the cost of travel away from home in the United
States. The TPI is based on U.S. Department of Labor price data collected for
the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI). The TPI is released monthly and is
directly comparable to the CPI. Please click here to access the current month Index."
Posts
I keep hearing all about travel decline, but I recently just purchased a ticket a week in advance of my flight from Miami to NY at a cost no more than what I would have paid last year. It seems as if airlines are offering more deals now than they used to, for instance, Spirit continues to offer a myriad of flights at less than 80 bucks each way.
ReplyDeleteA few select and often competitive routes, especially when served by a low-fare carrier that is hanging out despite the high fuel prices, still seem to be available at prices that haven't seemed to climb all that much. Flights to Las Vegas are in the category, and I'm guessing that NYC-MIA is as well.
ReplyDeleteBakc in March, my husband and I flew on United's new Denver-London non-stop, well priced at under $500 roundtrip because of the inaugural special. Even then, before the most recent fare spikes, $150 fuel surcharge and a $150 in misc other airport and security fees brought the roundtrip to nearly $800 apiece. That is still pretty good, considering the distance and the joy of not having to change planes in Chicago or New York, but still a whole lot more than we had anticipated.