Although Florida’s holiday season gas prices are the lowest they’ve been in years, prices have reached their highest level in the past week since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, according to AAA Florida Auto Club.
As of December 28, 2020, the average price for a gallon of gas climbed to $2.25. The previous high in the past nine months was set in October at $2.19 per gallon. Osceola County has the lowest average gas price at $2.16 per gallon.
“Oil prices returned to pre-pandemic levels last week, so it should come as no surprise that gas prices followed suit,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA Florida. “Fuel prices have been pressured higher by optimism surrounding a new stimulus package and COVID-19 vaccine news. These are two big pieces in the puzzle for long term improvement in fuel demand, which has been heavily hampered by the pandemic.”
The recent gas price pump jumps are a bit surprising given December demand numbers are the lowest posted for the month since 1999,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, AAA spokesperson. “The increases are likely to be short-lived, especially as holiday road travel is expected to see at least a 25% decline.”
Today’s national average is 11 cents more expensive than last month, but 33 cents cheaper than last year.
For the first time in months, Florida’s average gas price exceeded the national weekly average, which was $2.18.
