Since the larger travel companies don’t typically release their travel numbers until mid to late January, I thought you would be interested in seeing some of the projections for how the Holiday Season travel industry did in 2008.

AAA Chicago projected a slight decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Christmas holiday period. Nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Christmas holiday travel period, a decrease of 1.4 million travelers (2.1 percent) from last year’s total of 65.3 million. This is the first decline in Christmas holiday travelers since 2002. AAA projected year-to-year decreases in the number of travelers for all five of the major travel holidays this year (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).

“Without question, the economic downturn of 2008 eroded the discretionary income many Americans would have spent on travel and, for some, altered their travel plans throughout the year,” said AAA Chicago’s regional president, Brad Roeber. “However, those traveling this holiday season can take advantage of declining hotel rates and fuel prices more than a dollar per gallon less than a year ago.”

More than 52.4 million Americans (82 percent of all holiday travelers) intend to travel by automobile, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 53 million people who drove last year. Motorists across the country, on average, can expect to see gasoline prices about $1.30 per gallon less than last year and 50 cents less than a month ago.

Gasoline prices have dropped significantly over the past two months providing relief to motorists. Currently in Illinois, drivers will pay $1.71 per gallon of regular unleaded, down $1.34 from last year. In Indiana, regular unleaded gasoline costs $1.70, down $1.28 from a year ago.

Approximately 8.1 million (13 percent of holiday travelers) expect to travel by airplane, an 8.5 percent decline from the 8.9 million travelers who flew last year. More than 3.33 million Americans plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation. That is an increase of 0.7 percent from a year ago.

In Illinois, nearly 2.5 million people will be traveling for the holidays. The majority, 1.9 million, will be traveling by motor vehicle, with 303,000 people flying.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index (LTI), which is based on available rates this holiday, Americans can expect lower hotel rates and higher car rental rates throughout the holiday season. However, travelers should expect different trends in airfares depending upon the week of travel.

For Americans traveling during the week of Christmas, rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels are down an average of three percent compared to last year. On average, travelers renting a vehicle during the week of Christmas will pay two percent more than a year ago for the same period. Air passengers, however, can expect some relief in airfares this Christmas with prices nine percent less than last year.

Those planning to travel the week of New Year’s will welcome a significant decline in hotel costs with rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels 16 percent less than a year ago. Car rentals rates are eight percent higher than last year for the same period. Americans traveling by air will pay an average of three percent more for airfares than a year ago.

The fuel cell industry asked Congress and the incoming Obama Administration today to set aside $1.2 billion in the planned stimulus package for fuel cells and their fuels.

“Accelerating investment into fuel cells now will foster green power, advance a critical climate-enhancing technology, accelerate job creation and keep innovation, industrial capacity and jobs at home,” said Robert Rose, Executive Director of the US Fuel Cell Council. The investment would produce an estimated 24,000 jobs, Rose said.

“Fully funding fuel cell programs at levels authorized by Congress and utilizing other laws already on the books will put hundreds of fuel cell vehicles and up to 100 megawatts of fuel cell power into customers’ hands, reap efficiency, environmental and security benefits and create green jobs and high-tech manufacturing capacity for the American economy.”

The industry program calls for lease and purchases of fuel cells by federal civilian and military agencies for power generation and as battery alternatives, investment in supporting fueling infrastructure, improving federal investment tax credits for fuel cells and extending a credit to fuels. It also includes expanding learning demonstrations, accelerating research, and supporting an expansion of manufacturing capability at fuel cell companies and key suppliers, to foster a supply base and develop domestic momentum for jobs and expansion.

Fuel cells generate electricity and heat electrochemically, providing overall energy efficiencies of up to 80%, or even higher. Fuel cells produce benefits in all applications – power generation, industrial equipment, transportation, military power and consumer electronics. Because fuel cells are electrochemical systems and do not rely on combustion they are the cleanest fuel-consuming energy technology, with near-zero smog-causing emissions. They are essential to the nation’s response to climate change.

Fuel cells and hydrogen can help provide stability and continuity to the electric grid since they can provide continuous “base load” power in parallel with or independent of the grid. In addition, they can support intermittent renewable energy. These attributes make them ideal resources for supporting critical loads for military and civilian consumers.

Independent consumer watchdog group, InsuranceBureau.com reports auto insurance rates are on the rise across the country. The average auto insurance rate increase is 7 percent according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Interestingly, even though gas prices have fallen, most consumers are still driving less in an effort to conserve money. A poll on GasBuddy.com showed that 70 percent of consumers are driving less even with lower gas prices. “Theoretically, the less you drive, the less chance for an accident, but we are still seeing many companies increase their auto insurance rates,” says Eric Oster, the CEO of InsuranceBureau.com.

“There are many options for affordable auto insurance quotes that people may not be aware of or feel they have the time to search for,” says Oster. Using a free insurance quotes comparison service is a fast way to compare auto insurance quotes.

InsWeb announced today that it has launched a new online car insurance quoting tool that allows consumers to instantly view car insurance estimates based on up-to-date industry rate data. Consumers are required to provide only seven pieces of information — zip code, age, gender, marital status and vehicle year, make and model — and they are instantly provided with an estimate of the best available car insurance rate, as well as the median rate returned from the list of providers included in the rating database. Unlike other online car insurance estimation tools, InsWeb’s tool is updated weekly with the latest car insurance rate data from the nation’s leading insurers.

Once consumers have viewed their car insurance estimates, they then have the option to complete a more detailed form in order to receive multiple personalized quotes from an average of four top-rated insurance providers. Consumers can also view a list of local car insurance agents, as well as a list of national car insurance providers serving their area.

“Consumers who shop online for car insurance are looking for helpful tools, money-saving tips and fast quotes,” says Brad Cooper, Senior Vice President of Marketing at InsWeb. “With the launch of our new instant quoting tool, InsWeb now provides the most complete car insurance shopping solution on the Internet.”

Auto insurance rates continue to rise, adding pressure to cash-strapped consumers. Some drivers are letting their car insurance policies lapse, by either not renewing on time or failing to pay their bills, according to Insurance.com. In light of this worrisome trend, the company is urging drivers to explore savings opportunities and payment options—rather than go without car insurance.

“Every day we’re hearing from consumers who let their car insurance policies expire—by either not paying their bills on time, or allowing a gap between the end of their current policy and the time a new policy is acquired,” said Sam Belden, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Insurance.com, the leading online independent auto insurance agency in the United States. “Not only is this dangerous, it also ends up costing drivers with lapsed policies thousands of dollars when they go to get car insurance again. Having a lapsed policy can be a red flag for insurance companies.”

Insurance.com offers these ideas for protecting your rates and your credit.

1. Avoid a Lapse in Coverage—Never ignore you car insurance bill. Driving without insurance is against the law and you’ll be personally liable if you have an accident. And, a short-term decision like letting your policy lapse will have big, long-term consequences—your rates may be 25 to 50% higher.

2. Explore Payment Options—Many carriers offer discounts of up to 15% if you pay your bill all at once. If you’re not able to afford that lump sum payment, ask your company about monthly payment plans. There may be a small fee for a payment plan, but some carriers will waive that fee if you elect to pay by Electronic Funds Transfer.

3. Make a Partial Payment—If you cannot afford to pay your entire insurance bill, talk to your company about making a partial payment when your bill is due. Some companies will continue your coverage, as long as you pay something—but others may require full payment. There’s no harm in asking if a smaller payment will keep your policy in force.

4. Shop for a New Policy—If you have not shopped for car insurance in several years, now may be a good time to compare rates. New customers reported an average annual savings of $595 when they shopped and switched carriers at Insurance.com.

5. Protect Your Credit —Missed payments can lower your credit rating, making it more expensive to get car insurance coverage in the future. If a credit card company or department store offers deferred billing, look carefully at the terms, so that you’re not in deeper debt in the New Year.

For those who are resolving to save more money in the New Year, Belden also noted that auto insurance policies can be an easy—but often overlooked—source for savings. “Many consumers are unaware of the numerous discounts offered by their insurance carriers, discounts that add up to hundreds of dollars a year in lower rates,” he said. “Particularly in this economy, drivers should regularly review policies to see if they qualify for lower rates.” Such discounts include:

• Low Mileage discounts if you drive less than 10,000 miles each year.
• Hybrid discounts if you’ve recently purchased an eco-friendly car.
• Early shopping discounts if you renew two weeks before your policy expires.
• “Good student” discounts for high school and college students with a B or better average.
• Defensive driving course discount if you’ve taken a class within 3 years.

AutoUpLinkUSA, a provider of online vehicle marketing solutions for franchised and independent auto retailers, announced today an updated version of its online toolbox of solutions designed to help dealers sell vehicles more effectively in this current economy.

With reducing expenses while selling inventory profitably so critical for car dealers today, the online vehicle inventory publishing, marketing and management solutions offered at www.autouplinkusa.com explain how these tools can help dealers better:

• Monitor key metrics – Days in inventory and new and used vehicle pricing using AutoUpLinkUSA’s exclusive eReport Card reporting tool.
• Increase turn - Color-code indicators show how vehicles are aging and their associated pricing so action and adjustments can be taken sooner to move inventory faster.
• Price attractively - Pricing tools enable the easy factoring of factory rebates, incentives and other specials into MSRP pricing and adjusted by make and model automatically across all online inventory, including the dealership web site.
• Market compellingly – Create crisp, clean and customized online presentations using customizable templates; populate online presentations with unlimited number of photographs, as well as streaming video. Describe vehicles in great detail, using built-in VIN-exploded features and options. Add your own vehicle-specific details using pick-and-click descriptive “copy points” or write you own descriptions up to 6,000 characters in length. Draw even more eyeballs using online Carfax vehicle history report and Carfax One-Owner logos, and more.
• Market affordably – List inventory on the more than 400 car shopping sites that AutoUpLinkUSA publishes to nightly, including Cars.com, Carsoup.com, Dealix.com, Autotrader.com, YahooAutos.com, MSN Autos.com, and even eBay Motors and Craigslist.com. Link your inventory as well to consumers’ web-enabled cell phones through Gumiyo’s mobile connectivity tool.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX) today reported results for the third quarter ended November 30, 2008.

• Total sales decreased 23% to $1.46 billion from $1.89 billion in the third quarter of last year.
• Comparable store used unit sales declined 24% for the quarter.
• Total used unit sales decreased 17% in the third quarter.
• The company reported a net loss of $21.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared with earnings of $29.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.
  • Results for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 were reduced by $0.12 per share for CarMax Auto Finance (CAF) unfavorable items, including a write down in the fair value of retained subordinated bonds and increases in cumulative net loss assumptions. Earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 were reduced by $0.04 per share primarily for increases in CAF funding costs related to loans originated in previous quarters.

Alcoa Automotive Wheels, a division of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, announced today that it has been awarded the wheel program for the Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle.

“Alcoa is pleased to supply forged aluminum wheels for the Volt. Working closely with the GM team resulted in a wheel designed, engineered and manufactured for light weight performance that will further extend the range of this alternative propulsion vehicle,” said Mike Parnell, Vice President and General Manager – Alcoa Auto Wheels.

General Motors has targeted the Chevy Volt to deliver up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles. Removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle platform was a major goal of the program.

“The Volt is symbolic of GM’s strong commitment to the future … just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today’s and tomorrow’s energy and environmental challenges,” stated Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO, during the GMnext Centennial Broadcast held on September 16, 2008.

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) focused on design, engineering and production techniques to increase strength and durability while lowering the overall weight of the wheel. Forged aluminum wheels by Alcoa provide increased strength and durability gains and are typically greater than 20 percent lighter while doubling strength as compared to a similar cast aluminum wheel.

Lightweight wheels not only have a linear effect on reducing emissions and fuel consumption but can further improve driving performance and efficiency from a lower rotary inertia. As the energy used to accelerate and decelerate the wheel is reduced, less mass is required in adjacent, un-sprung components such as brakes, steering and suspension. Lowering overall un-sprung weight compounds the benefits of fuel economy and reduces emissions.

General Motors unveiled the production version of the Volt during their recent 100^th anniversary celebration in Detroit. Volt production is expected in late 2010.

“Alcoa provides the benefits of lightweight forged aluminum wheel programs for many global manufacturers and is honored to be working closely with GM on the Volt. Optimizing wheel weight enhances vehicle performance increasing driving range and economy while lowering emissions,” concluded Parnell.

Now that Chrysler and General Motors have been granted an immediate $13.4 billion loan from the government, additional steps must be taken to preserve taxpayers’ investment in the automotive industry, according to Edmunds.com.

First, the government must create a stimulus to motivate hesitant car-buyers to re-enter the marketplace.

“Our December sales forecast indicates a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 9.8 million vehicles sold, but no automaker can survive as a viable business in the United States if fewer than 11 million vehicles are sold annually industry-wide,” according to Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jesse Toprak.

Second, credit must be further loosened so that car-shoppers have an easier time getting loans.

“All around the country, dealers are expressing concerns that their showrooms are largely empty, and that many of the customers they do have are unable to get financing, even when they have decent credit scores,” reported Edmunds’ AutoObserver.com Editor Michelle Krebs. “Taxpayer money bailed out the financial institutions, so there should be a way for the government to grease the skids as far as credit is concerned.”

Third, legislators should implement a coherent energy policy that helps to shift consumer demand consistently to more fuel-efficient vehicles so automakers can focus their product development efforts more narrowly and efficiently.

“There is a clear correlation between gas prices and interest in fuel efficiency,” stated Edmunds.com Senior Analyst David Tompkins, PhD. “Car-shoppers flock to compact cars and hybrids when gas prices are high, but now as the national average gas price is below $1.70 per gallon, trucks and SUVs are expected to outsell cars for the first time since February.”