Sky High Gas Prices — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Laura Gangi Pond
Drivers in the Sunshine State and across the U.S. continue to feel the effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine at the pump.
On Monday morning, the average price of gasoline was $4.007 per gallon in Florida. This is the most expensive it has been since April of 2012, according to AAA. The national average was $4.065 at that time.
“Unfortunately, more price hikes are on the way and drivers may soon begin to see record-high prices at the pump,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “Gas prices are being dragged higher by sky-high oil prices, which are surging in response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Sanctions and regulations against Russia have limited its ability to sell its oil on the global market, thus intensifying global supply concerns in what was already a very tight market due to the pandemic.”
U.S. oil prices spiked 26% just last week, going over a little more than $24 per barrel. This increase in oil prices led to a 60-cent spike in gas prices. The state average went up 44 cents last week and AAA projects another potential 10-15 cent increase in gasoline prices. If that occurs, Florida gas prices would move around $4.12 per gallon, passing the previous all-time high. The current record high price for regular unleaded gasoline in Florida is $4.08, which was set in July of 2008.
As of this article, the current average price of gasoline in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is $3.973. The current average price in Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice is $4.005. In Lakeland-Winter Haven, it hit $3.972, and the average price of gas in Sebring is $3.956, the cheapest metro area in the state.
Florida drivers are saying it costs nearly $100 to fill up their tanks, and it only lasts for about a week with commuting to and from work and to places like the gas station and grocery store.
“It’s just difficult, just working, most of the paychecks go towards gas, and on top of that everything has gone up in price, foods, there’s not much in the grocery store, so it’s a struggle,” said Tatiana Myers from Collier County said.
Nationally, the average price of gas was $4.07 per gallon. The state with the most expensive gas is California at $5.34 a gallon, while the state with the cheapest gas was Missouri at $3.63.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
