With Memorial Day, the traditional kickoff for summer, around the corner, gas prices continue to drop in the Sunshine State but that might not last long.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) released a study on Monday showing gas prices dropping across Florida, lowering 5 cents a gallon in the past week and 14 cents a gallon over the past 23 days. On Sunday, the average gallon on regular unleaded in Florida stood at $2.32, just slightly under the national average of $2.34. Last year at this time, the national average was $2.22 with the average in Florida at $2.19.
On average, West Palm Beach had the most expensive gas in Florida at $2.43 followed by Miami and Fort Lauderdale at $2.37. Orlando had the least expensive gas at $2.26, followed by the Tampa Bay region at $2.27 and Jacksonville with $2.30.
Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA and the Auto Club Group, issued a word of caution on Monday.
"This unseasonable pump price plunge continued through the weekend, but shouldn't last much longer," said Jenkins. "Although gas prices could slip a little lower this week, rising oil and gasoline futures prices have already caused that downward shift to stall in some markets. As we get closer to Memorial Day, the market will continue to be influenced by crude prices, refinery production rates and gasoline inventories as key indicators that will steer retail prices into the summer."
Jenkins pointed to higher energy prices and gasoline futures prices last week and oil prices increasing $1.62 last week on the NYMEX Friday as to why drivers might soon be paying more at the gas pumps.
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