- Gainesville area gas prices rose 22 cents last week to an average of $3.98 per gallon according to AAA data.
- Florida's average gas price increased from $3.71 to $3.95, placing it 10th highest in the nation as of this week.
- The national average gas price reached $3.88, up 96 cents since last month and higher than last year's $3.10.
- Gasoline demand and supply decreased last week, while crude oil prices continue to climb amid geopolitical tensions near the Strait of Hormuz.
Gainesville area gas prices continued upward, with the average cost per gallon jumping 22 cents to $3.98 since last week.
According to the latest AAA numbers released on Thursday, the local cost at the pump went from $3.76 last week to $3.98 in the Gainesville area. In Florida, the average price per gallon climbed from $3.71 to $3.95 and the national average rose from $3.59 to $3.88.
Gas prices saw their biggest spike in June 2022, when the national average broke the $5 per gallon barrier. Last summer, the average cost dropped to its lowest mark since 2021.
“Tomorrow marks the official start of spring and prices at the pump continued to climb by 28 cents since last week. With the spring equinox ushering in warmer weather and more time on the road, gas prices are trending upward alongside seasonal demand,” the AAA release stated. “Last week’s announcement to release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months has no immediate relief on the oil market as the price of a barrel of crude continues to climb.”
The Strait of Hormuz, where much of the world’s oil supply is shipped from, has been cut off since the start of the war in Iran on Feb. 28, according to an article in The Hill.
The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.24 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.72 million. The total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 249.5 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 244.0 million. Gasoline production also decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.
Thursday’s national average for a gallon of gas is $3.88, which is up 96 cents since last month’s 2.92. Last year, the price was $3.10.
Florida has the 10th-highest price per gallon in the nation at $3.95. Last month, gas was at $2.93 per gallon, and last year it was $3.04 statewide.
In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $2.97 per gallon, and last year it was $3.13.
According to GasBuddy.com, here are the cheapest stations to fill up at in Alachua County:
- $3.75 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US 301, Hawthorne
- $3.79 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
- $3.79 at Texaco, 4909 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville
- $3.79 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
- $3.79 at Texaco, 6850 SE US 301, Hawthorne
- $3.85 at Marathon, 3970 NE County Road 340, High Springs
- $3.85 at Chevron, 830 NW 1st St., High Springs
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($5.61), Washington ($5.14), Hawaii ($5.07), Oregon ($4.70), Nevada ($4.66), Arizona ($4.43), Alaska ($4.42), Illinois ($4.04), Idaho ($3.98), and District of Columbia ($3.96).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.24), Kansas ($3.24), Iowa ($3.34), Arkansas ($3.34), North Dakota ($3.35), South Dakota ($3.36), Nebraska ($3.37), Missouri ($3.38), Minnesota ($3.43), and Mississippi ($3.48).
Electric
The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (53 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (50 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), South Carolina (46 cents), California (45 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and Idaho (43 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (29 cents), Missouri (31 cents), Utah (33 cents), Maryland (33 cents), Nebraska (33 cents), Iowa (34 cents), Vermont (34 cents), South Dakota (34 cents), Delaware (36 cents), and Colorado (38 cents).