Gas prices remain stable after Hurricane Milton hits state

Gas stations in the Gainesville area closed on Wednesday after drivers filled their vehicles prior to Hurricane Milton hitting the state that evening.
Gas stations in the Gainesville area closed on Wednesday after drivers filled their vehicles prior to Hurricane Milton hitting the state that evening.
Photo by C.J. Gish

On the heels of the second hurricane to hit Florida over the past two weeks, the average price per gallon remained the same in the Gainesville area.  

According to Thursday’s weekly AAA report, the average price per gallon in the Gainesville market stayed the same as last week at $3.18 despite Hurricane Milton devastating Central Florida. Statewide, prices dropped from $3.13 to $3.10 and nationally, the price increased two cents from $3.19 to $3.21.

Like Hurricane Helene, Milton affected demand in areas with destroyed infrastructure, power outages and flooded roads but did not severely impact national gasoline supplies but will affect demand in areas with destroyed infrastructure, AAA reported.

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The overseas tension between Iran and Israel also continues, which is slowly affecting the price of oil.

“All this terrible weather lately could cause regional prices to rise as drivers flock to the few open stations with gas,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in the press release. “But as roads are cleared and power is restored, stations will be able to be re-supplied, so any upward pressure on prices should be fleeting.”

The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows gas demand surged from 8.52 million barrels per day (b/d) last week to 9.65. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks plunged from 221.2 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 214.9, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.2 million barrels daily.    

Thursday’s national average of $3.21 is 4 cents less than last month’s $3.26. Last year, the price was at $3.68.

Florida is the 25th most expensive state in price per gallon at $3.10. Last month, gas was $3.16 per gallon and last year it was $3.44 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.26 per gallon, and last year it was $3.48.

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

  • $2.90 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30th Pl, Gainesville
  • $2.94 at Sunoco, 4207 NW 13th St., Gainesville
  • $2.99 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
  • $2.99 at Shell, 7015 US 301, Hawthorne
  • $2.99 at Texaco, 6850 SE US 301, Hawthorne
  • $3.03 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua
  • $3.03 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1st Ave., High Springs
  • $3.04 at Circle K, 15089 NW US 441, Alachua
  • $3.05 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US 301, Hawthorne
  • $3.05 at Circle K, 5708 NW 34th St., Gainesville


Quick Gas and Electricity Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.67), Hawaii ($4.59), Washington ($4.05), Nevada ($3.91), Oregon ($3.67), Alaska ($3.65), Illinois ($3.50), Utah ($3.50), Idaho ($3.44), and Pennsylvania ($3.38).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Georgia ($2.72), Mississippi ($2.75), Texas ($2.80), Arkansas ($2.81), Oklahoma ($2.81), Louisiana ($2.83), Missouri ($2.84), Kansas ($2.84), Alabama ($2.86), and Tennessee ($2.86).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (24 cents), Delaware (26 cents), Nebraska (28 cents), Texas (29 cents), Vermont (30 cents), Michigan (30 cents,) Utah (30 cents),  Wisconsin (30 cents), and North Dakota (30 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Hawaii (55 cents), West Virginia (45 cents), Montana (43 cents), Arkansas (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), New Hampshire (42 cents), South Carolina (42 cents), Kentucky (41 cents), South Dakota (41 cents), and Alaska (41 cents).

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Derek

Pretty sure the average around me in Gainesville dropped to $0 since there’s no gas to purchase…