Florida Gas Prices Set A New High For 2021: AAA

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Florida gas prices set a new 2021 high Tuesday, according to AAA. The state average is $3.01 per gallon, the most expensive daily average price since October 2014.

On average, Florida drivers are paying 7 cents per gallon more than a week ago. The state average is 90 cents more than this time last year, when prices plummeted due to low demand because of the pandemic, according to Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesperson.

"Florida drivers continue to feel the effects of rising crude oil prices, which have made it more expensive to produce gasoline," Jenkins said. "Oil prices have surged nearly 60 percent this year, as global fuel demand outpaces the recovery in supplies. Unfortunately, these pump prices will likely hang around through the summer, unless fundamentals change. Tropical Storm Elsa is not expected to impact prices at the pump."

Last year, during the pandemic, many fuel-producing countries reduced crude oil output, due to plummeting fuel demand. According to the EIA, the United States' production levels dropped 24 percent from January 2020 to August 2020. Although US production levels have bounced back from mid-2020 lows, they remain 15 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Reopening rigs can take time due to staffing and other logistics, according to Jenkins.

As a result of this shift in fundamentals, U.S. crude oil prices have soared from $47 per barrel in January to $75/b last week. The last time crude prices exceeded $75 per barrel was a brief period in October 2018.

The current average regular gas price for the Tampa Bay area is $2.97-$2.99; Bradenton/Sarasota, $2.98-$3.00 ; Lakeland/Winter Haven, $3.00; Miami, $3.00

AAA has listed the most expensive and least expensive regional gas prices below:

Regional Prices

• Most expensive metro markets—Panama City ($3.13), West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.12), Tallahassee ($3.05)
• Least expensive metro markets—Fort Myers-Cape Coral ($2.97), Punta Gorda ($2.98), Jacksonville ($2.98)

For a list of past gas prices, or to look up current prices for your area, visit AAA Gas Prices.