Bradenton-Sarasota gas prices hold steady ahead of anticipated hike

Ahead of the widely expected seasonal hike, gas prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota area remained steady during the past week.

Advice from petroleum analysts: Enjoy it while it lasts.

According to AAA’s daily fuel tracker, Bradenton-Sarasota motorists were paying an average of $2.23 per gallon of regular unleaded on Monday, the same price as a week earlier.

That’s below the state average of $2.29. This time a year ago, the area average was $1.81

AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins noted that “we nornally see prices rise 35-75 cents between March and Memorial Day,” but that “prices will likely remain on the low end of that range this year, unless there is a major upsing in oil prices.”

The Gasbuddy.com daily survey of 308 outlets in the Sarasota area had Manatee County stations averaging $2.17 per gallon Monday, while Sarasota County was at $2.25. Nearby, Hillsborough County and Pinellas County were both at $2.15.

“Some states gas prices may slightly lag the upward trend being seen in 38 states as remaining winter gasoline inventories are purged,” Gasbuddy senior analyst Patrick DeHaan said.

This story was originally published March 6, 2017 at 9:21 AM with the headline "Bradenton-Sarasota gas prices hold steady ahead of anticipated hike."