Gas Prices Down in Florida Approaching the Holidays

Florida motorists traveling across the Sunshine State heading into the Christmas holiday will find gas prices on average down 7 cents from a month ago, with prices forecast to dip a little more through the week.

The average pump price of $3.27 in Florida, which has been on the decline since early November, is also a little more than a penny below what motorists were paying the week before Christmas in 2011.

"Although gas price averages are only a few cents shy of what motorists paid last year, prices are not expected to deter holiday travelers," Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, stated in a release.

"AAA forecasts more than 84 million Americans will hit the road for a holiday vacation this year and the good news is pump prices are expected to fall again this week. Some areas in the Southeast have already seen gas prices dip below $3 a gallon."

Even with a barrel of oil at $86.73 on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the week began, up 80 cents in the past week, the national average is $3.26 a gallon -- down 25 cents since Nov. 1.