Did two Florida hurricanes change gas prices? See what you’re paying at the pump
Gas prices have remained stable after Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Prices are about the same in the state as of Monday, Oct. 14. In the Miami area, prices have decreased about a penny a gallon in the Miami area — that’s 3 1/2 cents a gallon less than a month ago and 28 cents cheaper than a year ago, according to industry monitor GasBuddy.
“Florida gas prices are holding steady as the fuel supply chain recovers from the effects of Hurricane Milton,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said.
“For now, while Milton has left a third of all stations in Florida without gas, the storm itself is not impacting prices, and the situation in Florida is expected to improve,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
Several North Florida areas are averaging less than $3 a gallon as the region remains the cheapest to get gas in the state, in some places about 25 cents less per gallon than South Florida. Palm Beach County is among the most expensive areas for gas.
Here’s what to know if you’re commuting or traveling in Florida:
Gas prices in South Florida
▪ Miami-Dade: The average price: $3.09 a gallon, down about a penny from last week, according to GasBuddy’s survey of nearly 1,700 stations in the region. Cheapest gas in the Miami area was $2.73 and the most expensive $4.46.
▪ Fort Lauderdale: $3.13, according to AAA.
▪ West Palm Beach/Boca Raton: $3.26, according to AAA.
Florida price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.10, about the same as last week.
Gas prices around Florida
Monday prices, according to AAA:
Bradenton/Sarasota: $3.09
Fort Myers: $3.11
Jacksonville: $3.05
Naples: $3.19
Orlando: $3.07
Panama City: $2.89
Pensacola: $2.91
Port St. Lucie: $3.12
Tallahassee: $3.02
Tampa/St. Pete: $3.11
U.S. price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas across the country on Monday, Oct. 14, according to AAA, was 3.20.
What the experts are saying
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy: “The national average price of gasoline has returned to a slight climb over the last week as Iran’s attack on Israel has slowly funneled to the gas pump, as expected. ... With oil prices recently starting to fall again, the rise we saw could end before you know it. And with restoration happening in Florida, we could start to see a decline in gas prices in the weeks ahead, with a good chance of seeing the first sub-$3 per gallon national average since 2021.”
Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman: ”Surging demand and power outages contributed to temporary gasoline outages across Central Florida and along evacuation routes. However, state officials say conditions are improving. Florida’s ports and all but two gasoline terminals are back open for tanker trucks to fill up and make round-the-clock deliveries.”
How to find cheap gas near you
There’s an app to help: The GasBuddy app was built to show motorists prices around them and a fuel tracker can update users on stations that have or don’t have fuel based on supply changes.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 8:21 AM.