Gasoline

With Hurricane Debby having little effect on oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, average gasoline prices dropped 14 cents a gallon in Florida during the past week. The AAA auto club AAA said Florida motorists Monday paid an average of $3.32 for a gallon of regular unleaded, down from $3.46 a week earlier.

With spring break in the rearview mirror, the cost of gasoline in Florida dropped an average of 12 cents a gallon over the past week despite increased global pressure on oil prices.

Gasoline prices in Florida were little changed over the past week, but an increase remains in the forecast for the coming months. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded Monday in the state was $3.30, up a penny from a week earlier and up 13 cents from a month earlier, according to the AAA auto club.

Gasoline prices in Florida continued to decline last week despite rising global tensions potentially straining oil markets.

Approximately 1,550 consumers have potential claims stemming from a fuel contamination issue that arose with Citgo fuel in August with close to $500,000 in repairs or reimbursements made by the petroleum company.The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provided an update Thursday regarding the Citgo fuel contamination incident at the Port of Tampa that occurred on August 26.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has identified a fuel contamination issue caused by human error at the Port of Tampa that could impact fuel sold in Southwest Florida.

Florida gas prices increased as projected last week with the state average jumping 11 cents per gallon, reaching a new 2023 high of $3.85 per gallon on Thursday.

As more motorists drive electric vehicles, the change could put a dent in gasoline taxes, which play a key role in funding transportation projects in Florida, according to an analysis by state economists.

The AAA auto club said Monday that a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Florida cost $3.46, up from $3.27 a week earlier. Naples and West Palm areas lead the state.

Despite higher costs for air travel and hotels, AAA projects holiday travel will be 3 percent higher than a record total set last year in Florida and 8 percent higher than over the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The auto club estimates more than 2.81 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles from Friday through July 4.