C.J. Gish
Florida witnessed the third-largest drop in average price per gallon nationally over the past week, according to new data AAA released Monday.
Both the Gainesville area and statewide, prices plummeted 18 cents per gallon since last Monday to $4.17. This comes after the all-time state record hit $4.35 earlier this month. Since then, prices had steadied and started to decrease.
According to AAA’s weekly report, the global cost for crude oil—which peaked following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine—dropped from $123 per barrel and is around $105. Nationally, demand for gasoline is defying seasonal trends, which likely dipped in response to higher pump prices.
AAA shows Florida is ranked 20th in the nation with an average price per gallon of $4.17. The state record high soared to $4.35 on March 10, two days after President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports to the U.S.
The average price per gallon last year at this time statewide was $2.91.
According to GasBuddy.com, the cheapest prices in Alachua County are:
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$3.93 at Murphy Express, 6323 NW 13th St., Gainesville
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$3.95 at The Short Stop, 2610 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville
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$3.95 at Circle K, 45 SW 250th St., Newberry
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$3.96 at Circle K, 20 NE Waldo Rd., Gainesville
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$3.99 at Gate, 3001 NW 13th St., Gainesville
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$3.99 at Circle K, 2320 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
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$3.99 at Circle K, 3424 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville
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$3.99 at Circle K, 4310 SE Hawthorne Rd., Gainesville
“Usually this time of year, with warmer weather and longer days, we’d see an uptick in gasoline demand as more people hit the road,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in Monday’s press release. “But we had a slight drop in demand last week, which may be due to higher pump prices. In our new survey of drivers, 59 percent said they would change their driving habits or lifestyle if the cost of gas hit $4 per gallon. And if gas were to reach $5, which it has in the Western part of the country, three-quarters said they would need to adjust their lifestyle to offset the pump price.”
For the latest information on the AAA gasoline survey, click here.
In the AAA’s release, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) data indicated total domestic gasoline stocks fell by 3.6 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 241 million bbl last week. Gasoline demand also decreased slightly from 8.96 million b/d to 8.94 million b/d. Both the reversal in oil prices and the drop in gas demand are contributing to pump price decreases.
Monday’s national average for a gallon of gas is $4.25, which is down seven cents since last week, 72 cents more than a month ago, and $1.37 more than a year ago.
Quick Stats
The nation’s top 10 largest weekly decreases: Maryland (−46 cents), Delaware (−20 cents), Florida (−18 cents), Georgia (−17 cents), Washington, D.C. (−14 cents), Connecticut (−13 cents), Virginia (−13 cents), Rhode Island (−13 cents), New Jersey (−12 cents) and Alabama (−10 cents).
The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($5.85), Nevada ($5.11), Hawaii ($5.08), Washington ($4.72), Oregon ($4.70), Alaska ($4.69), Arizona ($4.61), Illinois ($4.50), New York ($4.36) and Washington, D.C. ($4.36).