With the Fourth of July falling midweek in 2018, fewer Americans are expected to celebrate the summer's biggest holiday than in years past — 216 million, down from 2017's 219 million, USA Today reports. More than half of revelers are expected to have a cookout or picnic, with the forecast for a large portion of the United States being clear enough for fireworks, while the Great Lakes, Northeast, and parts of the South could see scattered storms.
Of the millions of Americans heading out of town, many will contend with the highest gas prices in four years, at an average of $2.86 a gallon, up about 63 cents from the year before. Americans are expected to spend more than $900 million on fireworks and more than $1 billion on beer, and consume some 150 million hot dogs, PennLive reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay: unwind at this picture-perfect resortThe Week Recommends The retreat that's ideal for recharging your batteries while experiencing life on an Indonesian island
-
The World War Two experiments that made D-Day possibleUnder The Radar Scientists performed gruelling tests on themselves paving the way for the iconic invasion
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
