Drew Dixon
The resurgence in coronavirus cases has caused gasoline prices to stall in Florida.
The average price for a gallon of gasoline across the state increased by 1 cent in the past week, according to the Florida AAA Auto Club. The average price of a gallon of gas ticked up to $2.03 for the past seven days.
While gasoline prices have stalled, AAA officials say that near-daily records of new cases of COVID-19 in the past two weeks make it unlikely that prices at the pump will show any significant increase any time soon and gas prices might hit another decline. That diagnosis comes even as Americans are in the traditional high-travel time of summer months when gasoline prices usually increase.
But fears of the spread of coronavirus have made travelers hesitant.
“Demand concerns are beginning to creep back into the market, now that cases of coronavirus are on the rise in Florida,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman. “State numbers suggest demand is holding steady, but market analysts worry about an eventual downturn. With wholesale prices turning lower, it’s possible drivers will begin to see slightly lower prices at the pump this week.”
While state gas prices went up by a penny for the average gallon in the past week, that’s still 14 cents higher than a month ago and another 51 cents lower than a year ago.
The highest average price for a gallon of gas in Florida the past week could be found in West Palm Beach for $2.15, followed by Gainesville at $2.11 and Tallahassee at $2.10 per gallon.
Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers recorded the lowest price at $1.98 per gallon in each of those cities. Orlando and Tampa came in a close second with the price per gallon at $1.99.
Florida still has a lower average price per gallon of gas than many places in the United States. The national average price per gallon in the last week was $2.17.
