Inflation impacting level of travel this summer

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (WNEM) – Inflation is busting budgets across the country, and people are trying to balance the higher costs with their desire to travel this summer.

Some people TV5 spoke with in Frankenmuth said prices are hurting their pockets, but where there’s a will, there’s a way, and sitting at home all summer for some is just out of the question.

“We are trying to plan a vacation next year and it’s all cost-dependent,” said Donna Sheets, a resident of Ohio.

Wrapping up an eventful weekend in mid-Michigan, people in the Frankenmuth area are out enjoying the good weather and the even better views of downtown.

“We wanted to go places that we would be able to obviously afford to go but also enjoy ourselves while we’re there. So, balancing those two is really what’s most important,” said Mt. Clemens resident Matthew Buchanan.

Sheets said they came up and coincidentally got the chance to join in on this past weekend’s Bavarian Festival. That was good for them as they said, with the higher gas prices, this is about as far as they’ll be traveling from their home state.

“We came here for his birthday because one of our cruises was canceled and so we decided to come here because we love it in Frankenmuth. We usually come every year, but we missed a couple of years,” Sheets said.

Buchanan said besides his family trip here, they’ve got some other ideas set up that will help keep budgets intact and not break the bank.

“We’ll be doing a little bit more traveling, but it will be a cruise later on this summer. So, it won’t be as much driving around, just the flight gas mileage as far as that goes,” he said.

Making the hour-and-a-half trip to Frankenmuth, Buchanan and his family are planning to get acquainted with the area as much as they can.

“Now we’re here for about four more days. So, we’re just going to enjoy our time here and walk around a lot. Less driving,” he said.

According to the Consumer Price Index, it’s measuring in at 3.4 percent, which is a big drop off from its peak back in June 2022 at 9.1 percent.

The next U.S. Inflation Report is expected to come in just a couple of days.

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