Florida is starting the summer with gas prices continuing to drop across the state, a new AAA study finds.
So far, in June, gas prices across the Sunshine State have averaged $2.31, the lowest for the month of June since 2005 and just under the national average of $2.33. As the month has gone on, prices at the pump have dropped, with an average of $2.21 on Sunday, the lowest Florida has seen since December 2016. Only Indiana has seen sharper drops in gas prices this month than the Sunshine State.
Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA and the Auto Club Group, said on Monday these lower prices could help other parts of the economy.
"Lower gas prices will make it more enticing for Americans to take extended, or more frequent road trips this summer," Jenkins said. "And when travelers spend less at the pump, they are left with extra cash to spend on lodging, shopping, and dining out."
Gas prices in Florida averaged $2.21 on Sunday, yet motorists are beginning to find prices under $2 a gallon at various service stations throughout the state.
The most expensive gas can be found in South Florida with West Palm Beach-Boca Raton's average at $2.31, followed by Miami with $2.28 and Fort Lauderdale at $2.27. The Tampa Bay region has the cheapest gas in the state with the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market having an average of $2.10, Orlando at $2.13 and the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice region at $2.17.
Prices could continue to fall, much like they did in Florida last summer when June saw an average of $2.35 in June which dropped to $2.05 in August. Jenkins said gas prices should continue to drop in the days to come.
"Oil prices moved even lower last week, dragging gas prices down with them," Jenkins said. "Oil prices are having a hard time stabilizing amid fears that oversupply will continue dominating market. The slump at the pump is not over yet. Prices are falling at a steady rate, and motorists should see another round of discounts this week."
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