TAMPA, Fla. -- A spike in gas prices in Florida has surprised AAA analysts, as the average price of gas in the state rose by nearly 10 cents over the last week.
According to AAA, the average price of gas in Florida went from $2.252 a gallon a week ago to $2.346 on Sunday.
Nationwide, the average price of gasoline has jumped by six cents over the past two weeks to $2.36 a gallon for regular grade.
Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the hike is mostly due to a continuing increase in crude oil prices. The price at the pump has risen 60 cents over the past 15 weeks.
In the Lower 48, the highest average price of regular gasoline was $2.87 per gallon in San Francisco. The lowest was $2.04 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The U.S. average diesel price is $2.39 per gallon, up 6 cents from two weeks ago.
"The dramatic increases seen in Florida came a surprise," said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman. "Basic fundamentals didn't change. There have been no reports of supply shortages, and oil and wholesale prices held relatively steady last week. When spikes like this happen, gasoline retailers are often the culprit. All it takes is one company to raise prices in effort to increase profits, then other retailers join in, causing a domino effect of rising prices.
The good news is that even with the recent spike, gas prices in Florida are still 37 cents lower that one year ago, and $1.15 lower a gallon that two years ago.
