Daytona Beach, FL - The recent price surge at the gasoline pump is slowing down across Florida, including the Daytona Beach metro area.
The latest AAA report has the current local average for a gallon of regular at $2.26, three cents under last week. That's also the current county average in Volusia and Flagler.
AAA Florida spokesperson Mark Jenkins says a nearly $3 drop in crude oil prices - the first such drop in five weeks - have helped kill part of the eight-cent rise statewide in the past two weeks, but he expects the average to go up soon once gas producers switch to the summer blend, which is more expensive to make.
"Drivers continue to find gas prices that are well below what they paid this time last year," Jenkins added. "AAA forecasts the national average to peak around $2.75 per gallon by Memorial Day weekend."
Oil producers are also concerns about the effects of a possible trade war between China and the United States, possibly negating the generally positive effects of OPEC cuts and sanctions against Venezuela exports, per Jenkins.
The current national average price for regular unleaded is $2.28 per gallon.
According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular in Daytona Beach last year was $2.65, 39 cents under the current average. It was at $2.11 just one month ago.
Florida gas prices have fallen an average of five cents in the past ten days, per AAA. The current state average for regular gas is now $2.25, 40 cents less than this time last year.
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($2.35), Panama City ($2.35) and Naples ($2.29) have the highest regular gas averages in Florida. Pensacola ($2.18), Jacksonville ($2.21) and Punta Gorda ($2.21) have the lowest.
The Sunshine State is 23rd highest for gas prices among all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
