Floridians are paying an average of 11 cents more per gallon of gas than they were a week ago, as the price of crude oil and wholesale gas continues to climb, according to AAA Auto Club South.
“Some oil analysts expect the rally for crude oil to end within a few weeks somewhere between $70 and $80 per barrel and, if that happens, then retail gasoline prices could peak at about the same time. We don’t know when that might occur,” said Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public relations for AAA Auto Club South.
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Florida is $2.58, up from $2.47 a week ago. Last month, Floridians were paying 41 cents less per gallon. However, gas prices are still down from last year, when the average price of a gallon of regular was nearing $4. Wholesale gasoline prices have increased 140 percent since the Dec. 24 low of 79 cents a gallon, according to AAA.
In South Florida, West Palm Beach recorded the highest price, at $2.68 for a gallon of regular. The average price in Miami is $2.66, while in Fort Lauderdale, it’s $2.64.
“We believe a prolonged run-up in fuel prices is likely to instill consumer resistance in much the same way we saw last year and that’s obviously counter-productive to an economy trying to recover from recession,” Laskoski said.
