Gas prices dip in Bradenton-Sarasota

Average retail gasoline prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota area have fallen 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.29 a gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 308 area gas outlets. This compares with the national average that has increased 2.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.38 a gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Prices are 38.6 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago in Bradenton-Sarasota, and are 15.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 16.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 41.8 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

In Florida, prices average $2.33 a gallon, down 0.9 cents per gallon from last week's $2.34 a gallon.

“Gasoline prices have continued a mild run higher across much of the country, though in the Great Lakes, gas prices have been on a tear," said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. "In the last month, no one has seen close to the pain exhibited throughout the Midwest. Average gas prices in Michigan are up 50 cents in the last month, followed by Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, who have seen a jump of over 30 cents in a month, largely at the hands of various refinery woes and insatiable demand for gasoline.”

But analysts still expect gasoline prices to cool in the next few weeks.

"We're sticking by our January forecast that told of an average U.S. gas price of $2.41 a gallon during the summer driving season," DeHaan said.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 9:46 AM with the headline "Gas prices dip in Bradenton-Sarasota."