Floridians Could See Prices Drop At The Gas Pump Soon: AAA

FLORIDA — Floridians could soon receive a big break at the gas pump, according to AAA.

Crude oil prices were slashed on Black Friday, and unable to recover Monday, Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesperson said. Concerns about the emergence of a new strain of COVID-19 and the implications it could have on future fuel demand influenced the price cut.

Check state and metro gas prices at GasPrices.AAA.com

Friday, the price of U.S. crude dropped 13 percent, finishing the week 10 percent lower than the week before, Jenkins said. Friday's closing price of $68.15 per barrel is the lowest daily price since Sept. 9. During that time, the price of gasoline in Florida teetered on $3 per gallon.
Monday, crude prices were erratic, reaching a high of nearly $73 before ultimately settling back down at $69.95 a barrel.

"Florida drivers should begin to see significant relief from the pain at the pump," Jenkins said. "The recent drop in futures prices could potentially result in a discount of 20-25 cents per gallon, unless oil prices stage a quick comeback. But it'd be unusual for that discount to hit the pumps overnight. Gas prices normally rise like a rocket and fall like a feather. So it could take a couple of weeks before prices at the pump fully reflect the downturn in the futures market."

Florida gas prices averaged $3.34 per gallon, according to Jenkins. That's two cents less than the 2021 high, $1.15 more than the 2021 low, and 90 cents more than this time in 2019. Before 2021, Florida drivers hadn't seen gas prices this high since September 2014, an AAA news release said.

Regional Prices

• Most expensive metro markets – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.49), Naples ($3.38), Fort Lauderdale ($3.38)
• Least expensive metro markets – Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($3.22), Pensacola ($3.25), Panama City ($3.27)

Ways to Save on Gasoline

• Combine errands to limit driving time.
• Shop around for the best gas prices in your community.
• Consider paying cash. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
• Remove excess weight in your vehicle.
• Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduces fuel economy.
• Enroll in savings programs. AAA Members who enroll in Shell's Fuel Rewards program can save 5 cents per gallon when they fill up at Shell. Click here for more information.

Find Florida Gas Prices

• Daily gas price averages can be found at Gasprices.aaa.com
• State and metro averages can be found here