Florida gas prices drop slightly ahead of busy Memorial Day travel

Average price per gallon now $4.48 in Sunshine State

Gas prices could significantly drop below $2 a gallon in Florida, W.D. Williams of AAA Auto Club told News Service of Florida. (Pixabay.com)

ORLANDO, Fla. – After days of setting new records, Florida gas prices have taken a dip.

The average price per gallon in Florida is $4.48, down 3 cents from the state’s record-breaking price of $4.51 per gallon.

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This decline comes ahead of an anticipated busy weekend for Memorial Day travel.

“Even though pump prices have moved slightly lower, gas prices on Memorial Day are still forecast to be the holiday’s most expensive yet,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a news release. “A combination of tightening global supplies and strengthening demand are the main culprits behind this unprecedented pain at the pump. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a quick end in sight. Gas prices are likely to continue fluctuating throughout the summer and remain well above year-ago levels.”

Before this year, the previous record high in Florida was in 2008 at $3.93 per gallon. Floridians paid an average of $2.86 per gallon last year for Memorial Day travel.

AAA is estimating 90% of holiday travelers to drive to their destination this year.

Ways to save on gasoline

  • Combine errands to limit driving time.
  • Shop around for the best gas prices in your community.
  • Consider paying cash. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
  • Remove excess weight in your vehicle.
  • Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduces fuel economy.