C.J. Gish
Gainesville hit the $3.40 per gallon mark on Thursday, marking the highest price at the pump in 2024.
According to Thursday’s AAA weekly gas report, costs at the pump increased four cents from last week’s $3.36 in the Gainesville area. Florida’s average price per gallon went from $3.33 to $3.36, while nationwide the prices remained steady for the second week at $3.27.
One of the reasons for the nationwide spike over the past two weeks was due to the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana – which produces nearly 440,000 barrels of crude daily – was forced offline over power outages. The refinery will reopen soon, according to the release.
“Old man winter is shuffling toward the exit, and with milder weather and longer days looming, the seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in the press release. “But it will probably be a slow, wobbly start to rising prices.”
The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand mostly remained flat at 8.2 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. The total domestic gasoline stocks also declined by 300,000 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 247 million bbl. The flat demand coupled with the falling supply contributed to stabilizing the national average this week.
Thursday’s national average of $3.27 is 20 cents more than last month’s $3.07. Last year, the price was at $3.39.
Florida has the 10th most expensive price per gallon nationally. Last month, gas was $2.98 per gallon and last year it was $3.33 statewide.
In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.05 per gallon and last year it was $3.38.
According to gasbuddy.com, here are the lowest prices to fill up in Alachua County:
- $3.19 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
- $3.25 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1st Ave., High Springs
- $3.27 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua
- $3.28 at Circle K, 15089 NW US 441, Alachua
- $3.29 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US 301, Hawthorne
- $3.29 at Sunoco, 5310 NW 13th St., Gainesville
Quick Stats
Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Utah (+17 cents), South Dakota (+11 cents), Idaho (+11 cents), Wyoming (+8 cents), Nebraska (+8 cents), Montana (+8 cents), Iowa (+8 cents), Ohio (−8 cents), New Mexico (−7 cents) and Texas (−6 cents).
The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: Hawaii ($4.70), California ($4.63), Washington ($3.92), Nevada ($3.91), Oregon ($3.60), Pennsylvania ($3.53), Illinois ($3.51), Alaska ($3.46), Washington, DC ($3.41) and Arizona ($3.36).