Gas prices in Florida dipped slightly last week even as they remain 46 cents higher than they were this time last year.
According to a report from AAA released on Monday morning, gas prices across the Sunshine State averaged $2.46 per gallon on Sunday. The national average stood at $2.51 per gallon. At the start of last week, the average price stood at $2.49 per gallon.
Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA and the Auto Club Group, said he expected gas prices to increase slightly in Florida over the next week as OPEC countries and other oil producing nations meet to discuss reducing their output by 1.8 million barrels a day.
"When oil prices rise, it becomes more expensive to produce gasoline," Jenkins said on Monday. "Prices at the pump are poised for an increase of 3-5 cents, based on current fundamentals. However, the oil and gasoline markets are likely to be volatile this week, and prices could face additional upward pressure as we creep closer to the OPEC meeting."
The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton market has the most expensive gas in Florida with motorists paying an average of $2.58 per gallon followed by Miami, where the average stood at $2.56 per gallon, and Homosassa Springs which had an average of $2.54 per gallon. Pensacola had the least expensive gas at $2.37 per gallon followed by Jacksonville where the average was $2.40 per gallon.
The Sunshine State was busy over the Thanksgiving holiday with AAA estimating that 2.3 million Floridians drove more than 50 miles from their home. With more than 50 million Americans estimated to have traveled over Thanksgiving, Florida benefited. Orlando was ranked the most popular travel destination for Thanksgiving followed by Anaheim and New York City. Fort Lauderdale ranked as the tenth most popular spot to visit this Thanksgiving.
Car rental locations across the Sunshine State also benefited over Thanksgiving. According to Hertz, three of the five busiest airports to pick up a rental car over Thanksgiving were in Florida with Orlando topping the list, Miami placing third and Fort Lauderdale ranking fifth.
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