that far off from where we were back before the pandemic, down about only 3% from 2019, which also is so interesting here is that people are really going to swallow the cost, the price of gas, seven-year high, $3.40 for a gallon of regular on average across the country. that is up about $1.30 from we are were this time last year. the bottom line, the expense is back, the traffic is back, and aaa says so interestingly this is really not going to keep people off the road during this holiday weekend. there is a lot more confidence, people are feeling better about traveling. and no matter what the gas prices are, and they are quite a bit higher than last year, people are still going to take that trip. the worst time to drive, according to aaa, in general, is between noon and 8:00 p.m. today. so you might have to wait for the traffic to die down until after 9:00 p.m. tonight.
prices at the pump it will take time, but before long you should see the price of gas drop where you fill up your tank. reporter: but 50 million barrels is roughly the equivalent of what americans go through every two and a half days. the spr is normally reserved for emergencies like wars or hurricanes that disrupt the national supply this is the first major release for a non-emergency. the united states coordinating a global response to rising fuel prices, partnering with india, japan, south korea, the united kingdom, and china to also release more oil, hoping to force opec to pump more to meet demand critics are going to charge the president with making a political than economic move because a move of this size is unlikely to help gas prices in the long term unleaded is averaging $3.40 a gallon a year ago it was $2.10 during the economic slowdown. if you re driving from here in tampa to atlanta, that s 456 miles. the typical car averages 25 miles per gallon
of these positives. i think we need to pay more attention to what americans are doing, rather than what they re saying. how much they re shopping, what they re doing in terms of quitting their jobs. big picture, i think americans are saying they hate the economy, but acting like they love it. spending a lot of money. gas prices, a lot of folks filling up today and tomorrow. national price $3.40. those 50 million barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve, that s just about 2.5 days consumption in the u.s. what are forecasters saying about if and when we might see the prices go down? first some context on where we are. this $3.40 a gallon price, that s the highest for thanksgiving since 2012. that s according to a new government report out just now. you can see how that has played out. that s up 62% from the same point last year when many people were staying home because of covid, also 32% higher than the same point in 2019.
high. $3.40 the national average, up $1.30 from where we were this time last year. so the bottom line here is the traffic is back, the cost is back. and what s so interesting is that people are still going to travel even in spite of all of those challenges, according to aaa. there s a lot more confidence. people are feeling better about traveling. no matter what the gas prices are, and they are quite a bit higher than last year, people are still going to take that trip. reporter: aaa says expect the most significant delays this afternoon. the worst times to travel, it says generally across the country, between noon and 8:00 p.m. tonight. the best time today, after 9:00 p.m. the maryland transportation authority responsible for this stretch of 95 where we are in aberdeen, maryland, they would
remains for the rest of the day. we know the vast majority will drive for this thanksgiving holiday. 48 million people hitting the road. what s so interesting is those numbers really not all that far out from where we were back before the pandemic. the new numbers down 3%. remember, though, that gas is at a seven-year high. the national average now $3.40 a gallon. that s down only about $1.30 excuse me, up, from where we were this time last year. so, remember, the traffic is back. the cost is back. and what s so interesting is that aaa says people are still going to hit the road regardless. these are the best and worst times to travel. aaa says the best time to travel is not until well into the effect, after 9:00 p.m. the worst time generally across the country again noon and 8:00