Florida gas prices have declined over the past three weeks, but the reduced rate is predicted to stall in coming weeks, according to the AAA Auto Club Group.
AAA said the state average on Sunday per gallon was $3.25, with Monday’s average of $3.24 being even lower.
Linda Eckwerth and Deb Wills drove from Davenport on Monday to the Costco near Mall at Millenia and when they saw regular gas for $2.99, they stopped to fill up.
“It’s been months. So, this is wonderful,” Wills said.
The price at the pump is good news for people like Kinsey De Armas from Ocoee, who said she’s spent over $100 in the past to full up her SUV.
“When we are close to fours ($4 a gallon) it is about $100. So yeah, absolutely, anything helps,” De Armas said.
Officials said this is the lowest gas prices have been since mid-February.
“Summertime road trips have become less expensive thanks to falling crude oil and gasoline futures prices,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA, said in a news release. “However, oil prices did regain some strength last week, which could cause the plunge at the pump to stall.”
This is due to the national price for crude oil rising almost $3 a barrel last week, which is a 4% increase. This has been attributed to the expected production cuts and increased demand in the oil market during the summer driving season, according to oil analysts and a report released by the Energy Information Administration.
The lowest metro market gas prices remain currently in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($3.05), Pensacola ($3.07) and Panama City ($3.07), with the highest being in West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.45), Naples ($3.34) and Miami ($3.33).
To view state and local average gas prices, as well as anticipated costs, visit the AAA’s website. AAA also has a road trip calculator to help with your travel budget.
Ways to save on gasoline, according to AAA:
- Combine errands to limit driving time.
- Shop around for the best gas prices in your community.
- Pay with cash. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
- Remove excess weight in your vehicle. Every 100 pounds taken out of the vehicle improves fuel economy by 1-2%.
- Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduce fuel economy.
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