Florida gas prices ease slightly after reaching four-month high

(The Center Square) – Florida gas prices fell slightly Monday after hitting a four-month high over the weekend.

The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida landed at $4.28 Monday afternoon. It comes after the state average reached $4.33 per gallon Friday, marking the highest daily price since May, according to the American Automobile Association.

Monday’s average is 15 cents higher than a week ago, 37 cents higher than a month ago, when the average was $3.91 a gallon, and $1.16 higher than a year ago, when the average price was $3.12.

It is unclear when drivers can expect relief as prices remain tied to conflict in the Middle East. In the past three weeks, oil prices have risen as much as 27%, hitting $105.83 per barrel last week, AAA reported.

"Rising oil prices contributed to the latest jump at the pump," AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. "Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have created uncertainty about global oil supplies. That uncertainty has placed renewed upward pressure on oil prices. Since oil accounts for about half the price of gasoline, higher crude costs are making their way to gas stations nationwide."

It now costs an average of about $65 for Florida drivers to fill a 15-gallon gas tank, according to AAA. That represents a $6 increase from a month ago and nearly $20 more than a year ago.

Florida’s average gas price remains below the national average of $4.47 a gallon and has yet to return to its record high of $4.89, reached in June 2022.

The most expensive markets for gas are West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, where the average is $4.43 a gallon, followed by Homosassa Springs at $4.36 and Naples at $4.35.

The least expensive markets include Panama City at $4.03 a gallon, Pensacola at $4.04 and Crestview and Fort Walton Beach at $4.05.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.