Florida Gas Prices Hold as Crude Jumps on the Market

Positive news about the U.S. economy has driven crude prices up near $100 a barrel, but prices at the pump have remained stable for now, AAA reported.

Across Florida, a gallon of regular unleaded cost $3.25 on Friday.

The same gallon cost $3.27 a week earlier and $3.33 a month earlier. "Although the national average for a gallon of gasoline rose 1 cent, state prices in the Southeast remain stable with no increase," Jessica Brady, AAA spokesperson of The Auto Club Group, stated in a release.

"However, the rate of decrease at the pump may begin to slow as we approach the new year and the market rallies as more uplifting economic news is released."

Crude ended last week at $99.68 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The total was $6.15 higher than a week earlier. Nationally, a gallon of gas increased 2 cents in the week before the Christmas holiday, settling at $3.23 a gallon on Friday.

Brady pointed to news that single-family home purchases hit a seven-month high in November, while the U.S. Labor Department reported unemployment claims dropped by 4,000 and a Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan report indicated that consumer sentiment surpassed expectations in November. Meanwhile, on the global stage, international efforts continue to stifle Irans nuclear program.