After a month of gas price increases, the cost at the pump dipped slightly not only in the Gainesville area but nationwide.

According to Thursday’s weekly AAA report, the average price of gas decreased from last week’s $3.58 to $3.51 in the Gainesville area since last week. It marked the first week since June 13 that gas prices went down.

The average price in Florida went down 12 cents from $3.54 to $3.42, while the national average decreased four cents from $3.54 to $3.50.

“The arrival of summer used to signal the start of a robust driving season, but that has not been the case recently,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a press release. “We know that a record number of travelers were forecast to hit the highways for the July 4^th holiday, but since then, they appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame. Maybe things will pick up soon.” 

The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gas demand plummeted from 9.39 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.78 last week. Meanwhile, the total domestic gasoline stocks decreased from 231.7 to 229.7 million barrels of crude oil (bbl). Gasoline production also dropped, likely from Hurricane Beryl, from an average of 10.3 million barrels daily to 9.5.

Thursday’s national average of $3.50 is six cents more than last month’s $3.44. Last year, the price was at $3.56.

Florida is the 23^rd most inexpensive state in price per gallon at $3.42. Last month, gas was $3.22 per gallon and last year it was $3.39 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.34 per gallon, and last year it was $3.41.

According to gasbuddy.com, here are the cheapest stations to fill up at in Alachua County: 

• $3.19 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
• $3.19 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $3.26 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30^th Pl, Gainesville
• $3.29 at Murphy Express, 6323 NW 23^rd St., Gainesville
• $3.29 at Sunoco, 4207 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.29 at Sunoco, 5310 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.32 at Marathon, 3936 W. Newberry Rd., Gainesville
• $3.35 at Circle K, 3525 SW 34^th St., Gainesville
• $3.35 at Wawa, 2305 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.36 at Gate, 506 NW 13^th St., Gainesville

Quick Stats

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets are California ($4.71), Hawaii ($4.69), Washington ($4.26), Nevada ($3.99), Oregon ($3.98), Alaska ($3.85), Illinois ($3.83), Washington, D.C. ($3.71), Pennsylvania ($3.66), and New York ($3.62).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are Mississippi ($2.99), Louisiana ($3.10), Texas ($3.12), Oklahoma ($3.14), Tennessee ($3.14), Arkansas ($3.14), Kansas ($3.16), Alabama ($3.17), South Carolina ($3.22), and Missouri ($3.22).