Florida gas prices continue to fall

Gas prices fall nationwide for the third week in a row.  

According to the AAA report on Monday, the national average price per gallon dropped three cents to $3.76. In Florida, the average went from $3.35 to $3.28 and from $3.41 to $3.39 in Gainesville.   

“The recent period of tight oil inventory pushing prices higher on the West Coast is over as regional refineries completed needed maintenance,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. “The average gas price in California, while still high compared to the rest of the country, is 85 cents cheaper than its peak in early October. This drop has taken pressure off the national average price.” 

According to the AAA report, gas demand rose slightly from 8.68 barrels per day (b/d) to 8.93 million b/d last week. Even with gas demand rising, it remains nearly 400,000 bbl lower than this time last year.  

Florida has the sixth least expensive average price at $3.28 per gallon. A month ago, the average cost was $3.39; last year, it was $3.30.  

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

• $3.08 at Sam’s Club, 4400 SW 33rd Place, Gainesville   
• $3.19 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua 
• $3.24 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US-301, Hawthorne  
• $3.25 at Chevron 7435 SE US-301, Hawthorne 
• $3.25 at Shell, 7015 US-301, Hawthorne 
• $3.26 at Murphy Express, 6323 NW 13th St., Gainesville  
• $3.27 at Sunoco, 7560 N US 19, Fanning Springs 
• $3.29 at Pilot, 17276 US-301, Waldo  
• $3.29 at Shell, 6807 NE US-301, Hawthorne 

Quick Stats  

The nation’s top 10 largest weekly changes: Rhode Island (+27 cents), Alaska (−24 cents), Connecticut (+22 cents), Maine (+22 cents), New Hampshire (+20 cents), Massachusetts (+19 cents), California (−19 cents), New Jersey (+18 cents), Delaware (+16 cents) and Vermont (+15 cents). 

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($5.57), Hawaii ($5.20), Nevada ($5.00), Oregon ($4.97), Washington ($4.92), Alaska ($4.86), Idaho ($4.33), Arizona ($4.30), Utah ($4.15) and Illinois ($4.15).