Planning a Memorial Day road trip? Here’s what you can expect to pay for gas
After several weeks of declining costs, gas prices locally and statewide are facing upward pressure as Memorial Day weekend approaches.
Nearly 2 million Floridians are expected to hit the road for the unofficial start of summer, according to AAA, which is projecting the most-traveled Memorial Day weekend nationwide in more than a decade.
Prices fell Monday in the Bradenton-Sarasota area for the 31st consecutive day, but analysts predict that streak will end this week.
“After declining for a full month, the pump price plunge seems to be fizzling out, primarily due to rising demand and another week of declining crude inventories,” said Mark Jenkins, a AAA spokesman.
After declining for a full month, the pump price plunge seems to be fizzling out, primarily due to rising demand and another week of declining crude inventories.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Monday in the Bradenton-Sarasota area was $2.28, down 2 cents from a week earlier and 17 cents from a month ago, but 14 cents more than this time last year.
According to Gasbuddy.com’s daily survey of more than 300 area outlets, Manatee County stations were averaging $2.25 per gallon, while Sarasota County was at $2.28.
Nearby, Pinellas County outlets were averaging $2.21, with Hillsborough County at $2.23.
“Due to a $3 per barrel surge in crude oil prices in the last week, gasoline prices have been moving higher across a good portion of the U.S.,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.
The Florida average on Monday was $2.30, well below the national average of $2.36.
This story was originally published May 22, 2017 at 9:26 AM with the headline "Planning a Memorial Day road trip? Here’s what you can expect to pay for gas."