Gainesville area gas prices shoot up 10 cents per gallon

After seeing a recent 17-cent decrease in the average price per gallon, gas went up 10 cents in the Gainesville area over the past week.

According to Thursday’s AAA weekly report, the cost at the pump is at $3.19 per gallon, a jump from last week’s $3.09. The average price throughout Florida went from $3.03 to $3.17, ranking the Sunshine State at No. 12 for the most expensive price per gallon nationally.

The national average increased by only one cent from $3.09 to $3.10. Hawaii has the most expensive gas at $4.67 while Missouri is at $2.63 per gallon.   

“Like watching dogs play chess, not much is happening,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “The national average for gas will likely maintain a glacial grind higher for the immediate future.”   

Nationally, the low gas demand coupled with slightly higher costs for oil has contributed to the price per gallon barely changing over the past week, according to the release.

New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand dipped from 8.27 to 7.89 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. Domestic gasoline stocks increased by 4.9 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 253 million bbl.

AAA projects pump prices to steadily increase in the coming weeks.

Thursday’s national average of $3.10 is three cents less than last month’s $3.12. Last year, the price was at $3.48.

Florida has the 12^th most expensive price per gallon nationally. Last month, gas was $3.12 per gallon and last year it was $3.56 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.15 per gallon and last year it was $3.57.

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

• $2.95 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1^st Ave., High Springs
• $2.98 at Chevron, 830 NW 1^st St., High Springs
• $2.99 at Texaco, 6850 SE US 301, Hawthorne
• $2.99 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $3.05 at Chevron, 15000 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua
• $3.08 at Chevron, 401 N. Main St., High Springs

Quick Stats

Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Florida (+14 cents), Washington, DC (+14 cents), Utah (−12 cents), Delaware (+10 cents), Idaho (−9 cents), Tennessee (+8 cents), Kentucky (−8 cents), Texas (+7 cents), Indiana (−7 cents) and Arizona (+6 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Missouri ($2.63), Utah ($2.63), Oklahoma ($2.65), Kansas ($2.66), Wyoming ($2.66), Arkansas ($2.67), Colorado ($2.68), Mississippi ($2.69), Texas ($2.75) and Wisconsin ($2.76).