Gas prices drop 12 cents per gallon in Gainesville area

Gas prices continued to drop in the Gainesville area and statewide following a late summer surge where they neared $4 per gallon.

According to the AAA weekly report on Thursday, prices dropped 12 cents to $3.55 from last week’s $3.67. In Florida, the average price per gallon decreased 11 cents to $3.54 and nationally prices went down three cents to $3.85.

 “Oil is stubbornly staying above $90 per barrel for now, and it’s the main ingredient in gasoline,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson in the press release. “Gas prices will likely keep falling, but it’s going to be slow and unsteady, so expect some days where it might edge higher a bit.”  

This week’s data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand rose slightly from 8.41 to 8.62 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. The mark is below last year’s rate of 8.83 million b/d that occurred the same week in September 2022.

Domestically, gasoline stocks increased by 1 million bbl to 220.5 million barrels of crude oil (bbl). The growing supply and tepid demand pushed prices lower, according to the release, but fluctuating oil prices are limiting the seasonal price decreases usually seen as the U.S. settles into the lower demand fall driving season. 

Thursday’s national average of $3.83 is two cents more than last month’s $3.81. Last year it was at $3.76.

Florida has the 14^th least expensive price per gallon nationally. Last month, gas was $3.70 per gallon and last year it was $3.39 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.81 per gallon and last year it was $3.44.

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

• $3.35 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30^th Place, Gainesville
• $3.38 at Murphy’s Express, 6323 NW 23^rd St., Gainesville
• $3.38 at Circle K, 5708 NW 34^th St., Gainesville
• $3.39 at Gate, 506 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.39 at Gate, 3001 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.39 at Wawa, 4322 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
• $3.39 at Circle K, 3901 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
• $3.39 at Circle K, 3525 SW 34^th St., Gainesville

Quick Stats

Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: California (+24 cents), Delaware (−20 cents), Iowa (−15 cents), Nevada (+13 cents), Oklahoma (−12 cents), Maryland (−12 cents), Florida (−11 cents), Ohio (−10 cents), Wisconsin (−10 cents) and Missouri (−9 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($6.03), Nevada ($5.19), Washington ($5.08), Hawaii ($4.87), Oregon ($4.72), Arizona ($4.69), Alaska ($4.62), Utah ($4.18), Montana ($4.16) and Idaho ($4.13).