JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida motorists faced a sharp jump in pump prices after escalating tensions in the Middle East pushed oil and gasoline futures higher.
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The state average surged 57 cents per gallon last week, and Sunday’s average of $3.45 was the most expensive daily statewide average since August 2024. Sunday’s average was 56 cents more than a week earlier, 59 cents more than a month earlier and 35 cents more than this time last year.
“Prices at the pump moved up quickly early last week as oil prices rallied,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA — The Auto Club Group, said. “With oil taking another large step higher on Friday, motorists should prepare for another round of increases in the days ahead as retailers and suppliers adjust to those higher costs.”
Crude oil prices soared 36 percent last week, the largest weekly increase in two decades. Friday’s close was $90.90 per barrel, nearly $24 higher than the previous week, and gasoline futures rose about 67 cents per gallon. Markets reacted strongly to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil; traffic there has stopped because of safety concerns, limiting global supply and pushing oil higher. In overnight trading from Sunday into Monday, U.S. crude rose nearly $20 to about $110 per barrel as of press time. If oil holds near that level, Florida’s average could approach $4 per gallon again.
“Oil is the biggest input cost in gasoline, so when crude and gasoline futures climb, retail prices usually follow,” Jenkins said. He noted that U.S. fuel deliveries remain uninterrupted, refineries are operating and there is no indication of a shortage for drivers. The higher pump prices reflect increased fuel costs, not disruptions to U.S. availability.
How high prices go will depend on how long the conflict lasts, when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes and how global supply and demand adjust. For perspective, during the 2022 Russia–Ukraine conflict Florida’s average reached $4.87 per gallon when U.S. crude topped $120 per barrel. Gasoline typically moves about 2.5 cents for every $1 change in crude oil, so with crude near $110 per barrel, higher pump prices remain likely.
Regional averages varied across the state. The most expensive metro markets were West Palm Beach–Boca Raton at $3.57, Naples at $3.53 and Homosassa Springs at $3.52. The least expensive were Crestview–Fort Walton Beach at $3.05, Panama City at $3.09 and Pensacola at $3.13.
Ways to get the most out of your tank
- Avoiding rapid starts and hard braking
- Maintaining steady speeds and using cruise control when appropriate
- Remove unnecessary cargo and roof racks
- Checking tire pressure monthly
- Combining errands to limit cold starts and keeping up with routine maintenance such as oil changes and air filter replacement.
Click here to see average Florida fuel prices by county and city.