Business briefs, Sept 29, 2015

Falling gas prices now the trend

BRADENTON -- Average retail gasoline prices in the Manatee-Sarasota area have fallen 2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.07 a gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 308 area gas outlets.

Prices in Bradenton-Sarasota were 22.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 22.1 cents per gallon during the last month.

"Retail gasoline prices should be expected to continue a slow but steady descent, consistent with what typically occurs when cheaper 'winter blend' gasoline becomes more available as we near the beginning of the fourth quarter," said Gregg Laskoski, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst.

Retail averages are up one-tenth of a cent, but on the whole remain discounted with drivers paying the lowest average for this same date since 2004, according to AAA.

In Florida, 22 percent of gas stations are selling gasoline below $2 a gallon.

Spanish business leaders to visit Port Manatee

PORT MANATEE -- A delegation of Spanish business leaders looking to build trade connections with the Manatee-Sarasota area will get a close look at Port Manatee on Wednesday.

The trade mission comes one year after a group of Manatee and Sarasota county business people and government officials travelled to the Spanish province of Catalonia on Spain's northeast coast to promote Southwest Florida as a place to start doing business in the United States.

During their time at the port, the Spanish visitors will have lunch and will take in presentations from Port Manatee, the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation and Manatee County government.

The port expects to begin hosting Spanish businesses at its intermodal office center in the near future. In June, an international business consultant based at the port announced that eight Spanish companies are committing to either putting staff into offices at the port's Intermodal Center or using the center as a virtual office until they can establish production facilities and product distribution in the United States.

-- Herald staff and wire reports

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Business briefs, Sept 29, 2015 ."