Gas prices rose slightly as the cost per barrel of oil jumped into the mid-$70 range since last week.

According to Thursday’s AAA weekly report, the average cost per gallon of gas in Gainesville went from $3.47 last week to $3.48. Statewide, the price went up one cent from $3.44 to $3.45, while nationally the price increased three cents to $3.58.

“Gas demand barely budged from last week, yet compared to this time in 2022, it is higher nationwide except for the Gulf Coast, Texas, and New Mexico,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a press release. “Some industry experts speculate that scorching temps in that region are keeping people off the road.”

New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed demand increased from 8.76 to 8.86 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. Nationally, gasoline stocks fell from 219.5 to 218.4 million barrels of crude oil (bbl).

Thursday’s national average of $3.58 is a penny more than a month ago but 88 cents less than a year ago.

Florida has the 21st least expensive price per gallon nationally after the increase from last week to $3.45. Last month, gas was $3.39 per gallon and last year at $4.20 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month prices were at $3.40 per gallon and last year they were at $4.28.

According to gasbuddy.com, here are the lowest prices to fill up in Alachua County:   

• $3.25 at Marathon, 9600 Martin Luther Hwy, Gainesville
• $3.26 at Circle K, 3901 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
• $3.29 at Pilot, 17276 US Hwy 301, Waldo
• $3.29 at Sunoco, 610 NE 1^st Ave., High Springs
• $3.29 at Chevron, 401 N. Main St., High Springs
• $3.33 at Exxon, 3960 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
• $3.34 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30^th Pl., Gainesville
• $3.34 at Circle K, 7404 NE Waldo Rd., Gainesville
• $3.35 at The Short Stop, 2610 NE 39^th Ave., Gainesville

Quick Stats

Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest increases in their averages: South Carolina (+15 cents), Utah (+10 cents), Tennessee (+7 cents), Virginia (+6 cents), Pennsylvania (+5 cents), Louisiana (+5 cents), Georgia (+5 cents), Alabama (+5 cents), Oklahoma (+5 cents), and Indiana (+5 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: Washington ($4.92), California ($4.89), Hawaii ($4.68), Oregon ($4.58), Alaska ($4.30), Nevada ($4.22), Utah ($3.93), Idaho ($3.89), Illinois ($3.83) and Colorado ($3.82).