Area gas prices soar to 2024 record high

The average price per gallon rose 12 cents over the past week in the Gainesville area to a 2024 record-high of $3.57 per gallon.

According to the AAA’s weekly gas report sent Thursday, gas prices increased from last week’s $3.45. In Florida, the average price rose 13 cents from $3.42 to $3.55. The national average price jumped from $3.41 to $3.52.

“Gas prices are a lot like seasonal temperatures.  They start to rise with the arrival of spring, said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in the press release. “And the national average for gas is now higher than a year ago, which we have not seen since late December.”   

The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows gas demand decreased slightly from 9.04 to 8.81 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. National gasoline stocks dropped by 3.3 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 230.8 million bbl. Increasing oil prices have pushed prices higher even though demand is lower.

Thursday’s national average of $3.52 is 25 cents more than last month’s $3.27. Last year, the price was at $3.43.

Florida is the 11th most expensive state in price per gallon at $3.55. Last month, gas was $3.36 per gallon and last year it was $3.44 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.35 per gallon, and last year it was $3.33.

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

• $3.29 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US 301, Hawthorne
• $3.39 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
• $3.39 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $3.45 at Sunoco, 5310 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.46 at The Short Stop, 2610 NE 39^th Ave., Gainesville
• $3.48 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua

Quick Stats

• Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest increases in their averages: Illinois (+21 cents), Indiana (+21 cents), Ohio (+18 cents), Maryland (+17 cents), Minnesota (+16 cents), Kentucky (+16 cents), Alaska (+16 cents), Wisconsin (+16 cents), Nebraska (+16 cents) and Oregon (+16 cents).

• The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($4.95), Hawaii ($4.69), Washington ($4.37), Nevada ($4.26), Oregon ($4.14), Alaska ($3.92), Illinois ($3.91), Arizona ($3.73), Washington, D.C. ($3.63) and Michigan ($3.60).