Florida drivers are getting hit hard at the pump this week. State gas prices jumped 84 cents in just 12 days; a spike AAA hasn’t seen this fast in four years.
People who rely on their cars for work or business are feeling the squeeze. By Monday, the average price shot past three dollars, a significant leap from the steady rates just a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s a pretty wild jump for such a short time,” a AAA spokesperson said. “There’s a ‘perfect storm’ of market forces hammering Florida right now.” Analysts blame the combination of global supply tightening and refinery maintenance problems up and down the Gulf Coast. And just to pile on, gas stations are switching over to the pricier “summer blend” fuel, which the government requires each year to help with air pollution.
This isn’t just an annoyance; it hits Florida’s tourism-heavy economy head-on. Stations in places like Miami and Orlando saw prices shoot up nearly ten cents overnight. Sure, gas prices here swing with global oil markets all the time, but this 84-cent leap left people stunned.
Experts say this price surge probably won’t ease right away. AAA suggests drivers use fuel-tracking apps and try to drive more efficiently to soften the blow a little, but for now, there’s no magic fix.
