Gas prices fall again in South Florida, but increases on horizon

Prices at the pump continued to slide in South Florida last week, falling 3.5 cents and averaging $1.90 a gallon.

Gas prices fell even more across the country, dipping more than 5 cents a gallon and averaging $1.74, according to GasBuddy.com.

In Florida, gas averaged $1.80 a gallon last week, a fall of 3 cents, according to AAA.

GasBuddy surveyed nearly 1,700 outlets in Miami-Dade County last week. For perspective, gas prices are 18 cents lower than a month ago and nearly 40 cents lower than a year ago.

“Gasoline prices continue to plunge coast to coast,” said Patrick DeHaan, a GasBuddy petroleum analyst.

The trend will continue in upcoming days, he said, and then shift upward “once winter gasoline is gone.”

AAA advises to prepare for a price uptick as refineries slow gasoline output because of seasonal maintenance.

“Unless oil prices decline in the coming weeks,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, “there’s a good chance that prices at the pump could begin to inch up.”

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This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 6:03 AM with the headline "Gas prices fall again in South Florida, but increases on horizon."