Driving and flying

Hurricane Earl may alter holiday plans along the Eastern Seaboard this weekend, but travel is expected to be brisk in other parts of the United States.

Some 34.4 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more this weekend, according to auto club AAA. That is a 10 percent increase over last Labor Day weekend, reports USA Today.

For one thing, gas prices are stable. The national average of a gallon of regular gasoline is 7 cents higher than a year ago, but at $2.68 is still reasonable.

Airlines booked 1 percent more seats and flights in North America in August than they did a year before. Vehicle miles driven in the United States increased 1.3 percent in June over the same month a year ago.

All this points to vigorous travel this weekend, which marks the symbolic end of the summer season. If you are traveling, may you do so safely.