Gas prices increased by nine cents over last week in the Gainesville area and the statewide average cost per gallon rose 10 cents.

According to the AAA weekly gas report sent on Thursday, prices jumped from $3.07 last week to $3.16 in the Gainesville areas while Florida saw an average increase of 10 cents from last week’s $3.02 to $3.12. The national average dipped two cents from $3.09 to $3.07

“I wouldn’t bet the farm on the national average reaching $3 a gallon, even if we are tantalizingly close,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in the press release. “The mid-winter blahs will likely keep pump prices waffling a few cents up and down for the immediate future. But keep an eye on frigid temps because those can affect refinery production, pushing some regional pump prices higher.”

New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand increased from 7.95 to 8.33 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. Also, domestic gasoline stocks increased by 8 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 245 million bbl. The slight uptick in demand has limited pump price drops, causing the national average to stagnate.

Thursday’s national average of $3.07 is 8 cents less than last month’s $3.15. Last year, the price was at $3.26.

Florida has the 15^th most expensive price per gallon nationally. Last month, gas was $2.98 per gallon and last year it was $3.27 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.06 per gallon and last year it was $3.30.

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

• $2.99 at Murphy Express, 6323 NW 23^rd St., Gainesville
• $2.99 at BP, 15295 NE US Hwy, Waldo
• $2.99 at Shell, 6807 NE US 301, Hawthorne
• $2.99 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $2.99 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
• $3.02 at Chevron, 830 NW 1^st St., High Springs
• $3.03 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30^th Pl, Gainesville
• $3.03 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1^st Ave., High Springs
• $3.03 at Pure, 405 NE 1^st, High Springs

Quick Stats

Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Indiana (+14 cents), Ohio (+13 cents), Arizona (−11 cents), Florida (+10 cents), California (−10 cents), Nevada (−9 cents), Colorado (−9 cents), Michigan (+8 cents), Oregon (−8 cents) and New Mexico (−8 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Oklahoma ($2.59), Arkansas ($2.62), Missouri ($2.63), Mississippi ($2.66), Wisconsin ($2.66), Kansas ($2.67), Texas ($2.67), Colorado ($2.70), Louisiana ($2.74) and Tennessee ($2.75).