AAA: Florida leads nation in gas increase

Florida had the nation’s biggest price jump over last week with an 11 cent per gallon increase as costs went up nationwide.

As the demand for gas went down following the Fourth of July holiday, increasing oil prices are creating the surge at the pump. The price per barrel of oil moved from the upper $60s last week to the mid-$70s, according to the Thursday AAA weekly report.

In turn, the national average per gallon went up by three cents to $3.55. In Florida, the price increased by nation-leading 11 cents to $3.44 and in the Gainesville area it rose 13 cents to $3.46.

“Gas demand has fallen nearly 10 percent since the holiday, as folks have returned to their day-to-day driving routines,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a press release. “Typically, this would lower gas prices, but such a move is being countered for now by the increasing cost for oil, the main ingredient in gasoline.”

Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand decreased significantly from 9.6 to 8.76 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. In the U.S., gasoline stocks stayed flat at 219.5 million barrels of crude oil (bbl). While the lower gas demand usually pushes pump prices lower, the increasing oil prices have lifted them. This trend will continue is oil prices rise.

Thursday’s national average of $3.55 is three cents less than a month ago but $1.05 less than a year ago.

Florida has the 20^th least expensive price per gallon nationally after the increase from last week to $3.44. Last month, gas was $3.46 per gallon and last year at $4.33 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month prices were at $3.47 per gallon and last year they were at $4.37.

According to gasbuddy.com, here are the lowest prices to fill up in Alachua County:   

• $3.19 at BP, 15295 NE US Hwy 301, Waldo
• $3.25 at Shell, 905 S. Main St., High Springs
• $3.27 at Texaco, 6850 SE US 301, Hawthorne
• $3.29 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $3.29 at Chevron, 15000 Martin Luther King Blvd, Alachua
• $3.29 at Pure, 405 NE 1^st, High Springs
• $3.29 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1^st Ave., High Springs

Quick Stats

Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Florida (+11 cents), Indiana (+10 cents), Colorado (+7 cents), North Carolina (+7 cents), Georgia (+6 cents), Texas (+6 cents), California (+6 cents), Maryland (+5 cents), Utah (−5 cents), and Arizona (−5 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($2.99), Tennessee ($3.09), Alabama ($3.10), Louisiana ($3.11), Arkansas ($3.14), South Carolina ($3.15), Texas ($3.19), Oklahoma ($3.19), Kentucky ($3.22) and Missouri ($3.23).