SHARE:
Gas Prices Down as Holiday Travel Nears
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida was down to $3.15 on Monday, and motorists could see more relief as they travel for the holidays.
The $3.15 average was down from $3.57 a month ago, according to the AAA auto club.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a prepared statement the average could be below $3 a gallon “before Christmas Day.”
Average prices are already below $3 in Panama City and Pensacola, while the highest prices were in the West Palm Beach area, at $3.36 a gallon, the Naples area, at $3.32 a gallon, and the Gainesville area, at $3.31 a gallon.
“Economic recession concerns have kept downward pressure on the global fuel market, causing crude oil prices to plummet, dragging gas prices down with them," Jenkins said.
Meanwhile, AAA projected 6.3 million Floridians will travel 50 miles or more for the end-of-year holidays.
“Americans are spending more on travel than any other time in the past two years,” Debbie Haas, AAA vice president of travel, said in a statement.
“The good news is the cost for a holiday road trip will be less expensive than anticipated, now that gas prices are on the way down.”
Most of the expected Florida travelers, 5.8 million, will journey by car. Another 336,145 Floridians will travel by air.
