Politics
Florida gas prices decline slightly after spike
AAA expects weekly fluctuations to continue as retailers adjust to wholesale costs and competitive pricing patterns.
Gas prices in Florida are falling after a sharp increase last week, according to AAA — The Auto Club Group.
The state average jumped 14 cents to $2.89 per gallon Thursday, the highest daily average price since Dec. 20. Prices then began to ease, slipping 3 cents over the next three days.
On Monday, the state average was $2.84 per gallon.
Meanwhile, the price of crude oil ended the week at $61.07 per barrel, 3% more than the week prior. Higher oil prices generally portend higher pump prices, but according to AAA, Florida’s retail market continues to follow its own pattern.
AAA said it expects weekly fluctuations to continue in the Sunshine State as retailers adjust to wholesale costs and competitive pricing patterns.
“These fluctuations are part of a price‑cycling trend we’ve been seeing for more than a year now,” AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement.
“Retail prices tend to rise sharply over a short period, then gradually drift lower. Even with small movements in the oil market, this cycle continues to drive most of the day-to-day volatility at the pump.”
Florida’s most affordable metropolitan market is the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach area, where motorists can get a gallon of regular gas for $2.60, followed by Panama City ($2.61) and Pensacola ($2.61).
The most expensive markets are West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.03), Naples ($2.95) and Gainesville ($2.90).
Nationally, there’s a $2-per-gallon divide between the cheapest state for gas-dependent motorists, Oklahoma ($2.41), and the priciest one, Hawaii ($4.41).
