Where's cheapest gas in Florida? Here's how prices compare
TALLAHASSEE - Florida is approaching the end of 2024 with average gasoline prices around $3 and slightly lower than at the close of 2023.
The AAA auto club said the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded Monday in Florida was $3.06, up 7 cents from a week earlier when it dropped below $3. The average was $3.08 a gallon a year earlier.
The national average price Monday was $3.03 a gallon, which is a penny lower than last week, according to AAA.
The highest prices last week were in Palm Beach County at $3.26, followed by Madison at $3.20.
Broward was at $3.08, Miami-Dade at $3.16 and Monroe at $3.15.
The lowest gas prices were in the Panhandle with Oklaloosa the cheapest at $2.72.
The average cost of diesel in the state was $3.46, which is 1 cents less from a week ago but 47 cents lower than a year ago.
The highest recorded averages were 4.89 for regular unleaded on June 13, 2022 and $5.73 for diesel on June 14, 2022.
Boston-based GasBuddy forecast that the price of a gallon of gas nationally will average $3.22 in 2025. Meanwhile, the average is expected to be from $3.12 a gallon to $3.51 in Florida. That is slightly lower than the forecast for 2024 of $3.19 a gallon to $3.51 a gallon.
Pump prices are expected to gradually increase in the late spring and early summer, as refineries start to return to a more-expensive summer blend of fuel. They are expected to dip later in the year.
GasBuddy looks at issues such as supply and demand changes, changes in the federal government, fiscal policy that can affect inflation and timing of interest-rate cuts.
"While declining fuel prices in 2025 will provide welcome relief to American drivers and businesses, emerging risks could lead to increased volatility," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a prepared statement. "Geopolitical uncertainties, potential disruptions from extreme weather, and policy shifts under the new (federal) administration could create challenges for fuel markets. Despite this, expanding global refining capacity and moderating demand are expected to support lower prices for most of the year."
But the report pointed to factors that could affect the forecast, including supply-chain disruptions caused by tensions in the Middle East, sanctions on Russian energy exports, increased energy demands in Asia and policies related to President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House.
"(Trump's) campaign promises to scale back environmental regulations and promote domestic fossil fuel production could accelerate drilling and oil output," the report said. "At the same time, potential shifts in foreign policy --- such as his expressed skepticism of NATO and confrontational rhetoric toward allies and trade partners --- introduce risks of destabilizing global markets."
The West Coast typically sees higher prices, at least in part because gasoline is produced at a small number of dominant refineries. Meanwhile, areas of the Northeast compete with Europe in the international market.
People in Florida and other parts of the Southeast receive gas supplied by major pipelines connecting to Gulf of Mexico-based refineries.
Among states, California has the highest projected average price in 2025 from $4.50 to $5.07 a gallon, according to the report. Mississippi has the lowest projected average price, from $2.69 to $3.03 a gallon. Texas is at $2.76 to $3.10, New York is at $3.22 to $3.63, and Illinois is at $3.42 to $3.84.
