With Christmas and New Year’s on the horizon, prices at the pumps rose slightly as more than 107 million people plan to drive more than 50 miles this holiday season.

As of Thursday, the average price per gallon in the Gainesville area remained at $3.13 compared to last week. In Florida, the cost went from $3.05 to $3.07, while nationwide the price increased from $3.02 to $3.04.

“We could be heading into a period of relative stability when it comes to pump prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a press release. “Despite some reports to the contrary, the national average never fell below $3 this year, and it might not as a record 119 million people are forecast to travel this holiday season. And 107 million will go by car, which is a lot of fueling up.”      

New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed gasoline demand rose from 8.81 million barrels per day (b/d) last week to 8.92. The total domestic gasoline stocks rose from 219.7 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 222, while gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.9 million barrels daily.

Thursday’s national average of $3.04 is two cents more than last month’s $3.06. Last year, the price was at $3.08.

Florida is the 13^th most expensive state in price per gallon at $3.07. Last month, gas was $3.09 per gallon and last year it was $2.92 statewide.  

In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $3.14 per gallon, and last year it was $2.99.

According to gasbuddy.com, here are the cheapest stations to fill up at in Alachua County: 

• $2.66 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua
• $2.76 at Raceway, 16171 Martin Luther King Dr., Alachua
• $2.79 at Circle K, 15089 NW US 441, Alachua
• $2.89 at BP, 15295 NE US 301, Waldo
• $2.89 at Raceway, 15330 NW US 301, Waldo
• $2.89 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30^th Pl, Gainesville
• $2.89 at Marathon, 14495 Cole St., Waldo
• $2.89 at Pilot, 17276 US 301, Waldo
• $2.97 at Chevron, 830 NW 1^st St., High Springs
• $2.98 at Chevron, 401 N. Main St., High Springs

Quick Gas and Electricity Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are Hawaii ($4.54), California ($4.31), Washington ($3.91), Nevada ($3.58), Oregon ($3.46), Alaska ($3.36), Illinois ($3.243), Pennsylvania ($3.22), Washington, DC ($3.22), and New York ($3.14).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.58), Mississippi ($2.60), Arkansas ($2.65), Texas ($2.66), Kansas ($2.68), Louisiana ($2.71), Tennessee ($2.72), Missouri ($2.74), Alabama ($2.75) and South Carolina ($2.77).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (24 cents), Nebraska (24 cents), Delaware (27 cents), Texas (27 cents), Washington, DC (29 cents), Maryland (29 cents), Utah (29 cents) North Dakota (29 cents), and Michigan (29 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Hawaii (56 cents), Montana (45 cents), West Virginia (44 cents), New Hampshire (42 cents), Arkansas (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), Kentucky (41 cents), South Carolina (41 cents), Louisiana (41 cents), and Alaska (41 cents).