The grill is the easy part. The drive back is the study.
AAA and INRIX had Mondayโs map before the weekend started: best before noon, worst 2โ5 p.m. That is the return wave mixing with people who never left town. Thursday and Friday were the outbound crush. Sunday was the quiet one. Labor Day afternoon is when the coolers come home.
National regular gas went into the holiday around $4.14 โ first Labor Day above $4, old record $3.82 in 2012. Diesel already tagged $5.85. You are not saving money by sitting in the left lane at 3:30.
New York: Eastern Parkway is a parade, not a shortcut. 2/3/4 skip Brooklyn Museum until 9 p.m. Hawaii: south shores under a high surf warning; Kauai can see 20โ30 feet. Do not โmake timeโ on a coastal road NWS already named for overwash.
If you can wait until after 8 p.m., the study says that is cleaner than the afternoon. If you cannot, add time, not speed. Map an alternate before you need it. The 401(k) is closed. The Interstate is not.
What this means for you
If you are already home, stay. If you have not left the beach house, look at a clock before you look at a map. If you are on Kauai, you are not in this traffic story. You are in the warning.
Bottom line: 2 to 5 is the ugly window. Noon was the exit. The gallon is a record either way.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
