Daytona Beach, FL - The financial pain is real at the gasoline pump right now thanks to higher demand and shorter supply worldwide.
The average for a gallon of regular has gone up 16 cents in the Daytona Beach area in the past week, according to AAA.
It's now at $2.76 cents, which is also the Volusia County average. Flagler's is a cent lower at $2.75, per AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins.
"Fuel supplies continued to tighten due to refinery issues," Jenkins noted. "Until supply levels return to normal, the potential will remain for additional price hikes."
Many of those issues revolve around seasonal maintenance and refineries switching to summer-blend fuel.
Jenkins noted that gas prices seem to be leveling off for now, but he wouldn't rule out another surge in the near future.
"Based on current wholesale prices, AAA does not forecast another round of rising prices this week unless there is an unexpected supply interruption or stock market spike," Jenkins added. "Although gas price hikes are not out of the norm this time of year, it's something that often catches many motorists by surprise."
AAA stats show a 14 cent rise in regular gas prices across Florida since last week. The current average of $2.75 at the end of March is nearly 30 cents more than last month and nearly 10 cents more than last March.
Gas prices in Florida averaged $2.58 in March, the highest for that month since 2014.
Some of the biggest weekly gas price gains occurred in the Orlando (18 cents), Tampa Bay (18 cents), Jacksonville (17 cents) and Fort Myers-Cape Coral (17 cents) metro areas, per AAA.
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($2.85), Fort Lauderdale ($2.80) and Naples ($2.79) have the most expensive gas by
AAA's current nationwide average is $2.69.
