BUSINESS MEMO: HOLIDAY TRAVEL TO SET RECORD

Holiday travel is expected to set a record during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, with as many as 45.2 million people expected to travel more than 100 miles from home.

About 35.5 million people plan to travel by automobile during the holiday, up two percent from last year, according to AAA-Auto Club. Another 9.7 million will travel by airplane, train or bus, which is a one percent increase.

Gasoline prices are down from a year ago, which could result in more holiday travel than in the past. St. Louis and Kansas City surveys by the AAA-Auto Club of Missouri found the average prices for self serviced unleaded at 86 cents and 78 cents, respectively.

Motorists traveling to other parts of the country could pay as much as 33 cents more per gallon in other areas. In Western states, the average price for self-service regular is $1.18, and to the south prices range from 95 to 97 cents. New England prices average about $1.05.