Gas prices continue to plummet, but for how much longer?

Slowly yet steadily, gas prices across the Bradenton-Sarasota region as well as Florida continue to fall, with Monday marking the 32nd consecutive day costs dropped in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Analysts predict motorists can expect more of the same in the coming week.

According to AAA’s daily fuel tracker, the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded in the two-county region on Monday was $2.41, an 8-cent drop from a week earlier.

AAA reported the biggest weekly declines were in the Tampa (10 cents), Orlando (10 cents) Punta Gorda (9 cents) and Bradenton-Sarasota markets.

With prices “still inflated by a little more than 10 cents, thanks to the hurricanes,” a similar drop in costs is expected this week, AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said.

To illustrate the effects the two hurricanes had on the petroleum industry: Prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota area are 20 cents higher than this time a year ago, despite the recent run of declines.

Meanwhile, for the first time since Harvey (limited supply) and Irma (increased demand) caused prices to skyrocket across Florida in late August and early September, the state average ($2.46) fell below the national average ($2.47).

With supply continuing to outpace demand, as it tends to do this time of year, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said a sixth straight week of declining costs locally and statewide.

According to GasBuddy’s daily survey of more than 300 area stations, Manatee County outlets were averaging $2.39 per gallon on Monday, with Sarasota County at $2.43.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region had the cheapest average ($2.34) in the state on Monday, while Miami ($2.62) was the most expensive.

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 9:32 AM with the headline "Gas prices continue to plummet, but for how much longer?."