Gas prices are on a downward trend.
In Miami, prices at the pump are more than 13 cents lower than a month ago, and decreased about a penny since last week to average $3.48 a gallon. The average price across Florida was the same as last week. In the Bradenton area, prices jumped 5 cents from last week.
Drivers are paying attention as millions of us get ready to hit the road for the long Memorial Day Weekend.
Here’s what to know:
Gas prices in South Florida
▪ Miami-Dade: The average price: $3.48 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of nearly 1,700 stations in the region. That’s a decrease of 1.3 cents a gallon from last week. Prices in the Miami area are 13.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. Cheapest gas in the Miami area was $3.09 and the most expensive $4.99.
▪ Fort Lauderdale: $3.50
▪ West Palm Beach/Boca Raton: $3.64
Florida price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.44, same as last week.
Gas prices around Florida
Monday prices, according to AAA:
Bradenton/Sarasota: $3.43
Fort Myers: $3.44
Jacksonville: $3.41
Naples: $3.49
Orlando: $3.40
Panama City: $3.24
Pensacola: $3.24
Port St. Lucie: $3.46
Tampa/St. Pete: $3.41
U.S. price at the pump
Average: The average price for a gallon of gas across the country on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.59, down 2 cents from last week.
What the experts are saying
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy: “The news continues to be good for motorists ahead of Memorial Day, with gasoline prices again falling, making it four straight weeks of declines for the national average as we get closer to the start of the summer driving season. The good news doesn’t necessarily end there, either. GasBuddy’s Summer Travel Forecast, coming out tomorrow, will also give motorists mostly good news for the rest of the summer, predicting that gas prices over the next few months will stay far under record levels and should continue trending lower as we get closer to July 4. While the Middle East, hurricane season, refinery maintenance and any other unexpected disruptions or weather remain wildcards, this summer is shaping up to be mostly favorable for drivers hitting the road.”
Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman: “Pump prices are drifting lower as a record-setting 2.5 million Floridians prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend. However, ongoing geopolitical tensions could prevent pump prices from falling below year-ago levels, during the holiday weekend.”
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.
