Pump prices keep falling

For the fifth straight week, gas prices have steadily dropped throughout Florida and nationwide.

On Monday, Gainesville’s price per gallon was at $4.16 – down 17 cents since last week. According to the latest AAA press release, the decline is attributed to both the lower demand domestically for gas and the cost per barrel of oil dropping into the mid-$90 range. Three weeks ago, a barrel of oil sold for $110. 

“Consumers appear to be taking the pressure off their wallets by fueling up less,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in the release. “And there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic that pump prices will continue to fall, particularly if the global price for oil does not spike. But the overall situation remains very volatile.”

The steep decline after the national average surged to an all-time high of $5.01 per gallon on June 14. Florida’s highest average peaked at $4.89 on June 13, while Gainesville hit $4.91 on June 15. 

Statewide, the average price dropped from $4.25 to $4.08 last week, and nationwide the cost went from $4.52 to $4.35. Florida ranks at the 16^th least expensive state in the nation for a gallon of gas.

According to GasBuddy.com, the following locations have the best prices in Alachua County:

• $3.94 at Murphy Express, 6823 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.94 at Sam’s Club, 4400 SW 33^rd Place, Gainesville
• $3.94 at Circle K, 4565 NW 13^th St., Gainesville
• $3.95 at The Short Stop, 2610 NE 39^th Ave., Gainesville
• $3.98 at Chevron, 830 NW 1^st St., High Springs
• $3.99 at BP, 3845 NE 15^th St., Gainesville
• $3.99 at BP, 15295 NE US Hwy 301, Waldo
• $3.99 at Pilot, 17276 US Hwy 301, Waldo
• $3.99 at Sunoco, 528 NW 8^th Ave., Gainesville
• $4.00 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US Hwy 301, Hawthorne

Quick Stats 

The nation’s top 10 largest weekly decreases: Kansas (−29 cents), Iowa (−25 cents), Oklahoma (−25 cents), Missouri (−23 cents), Ohio (−22 cents), Wisconsin (−22 cents), Nebraska (−22 cents), Delaware (−21 cents), Wyoming (−21 cents) and Indiana (−21 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Texas ($3.85), South Carolina ($3.86), Georgia ($3.88), Mississippi ($3.89), Alabama ($3.92), Tennessee ($3.93), Arkansas ($3.93), Louisiana ($3.94), Oklahoma ($3.96) and Kentucky ($4.00).