TAMPA, Fla. — If your last trip to the gas station felt a bit heavier on the wallet, you aren’t alone. Florida gas prices took another leap upward last week, climbing 9 cents to reach a weekly high of $2.93 per gallon this past Friday. This spike represents the highest prices Florida drivers have seen in the first six weeks of 2026.
While the state average settled slightly by Sunday to $2.91 per gallon, the underlying pressure on the market remains. According to AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins, the recent trend is a mix of global stress and local habits.
He noted that international geopolitical tensions and tightening fuel supplies are pushing oil futures higher. When you add in Florida’s typical “price cycling” — where retailers drop prices slowly only to hike them back up all at once — the result is a noticeable hit to the pocketbook.
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Despite the recent climb, there is a silver lining for the long-term budget. Drivers are actually paying about 17 cents less per gallon than they were at this same time in 2025. Still, compared to just a month ago, the average is up by 5 cents.
Where you live in the Sunshine State continues to dictate how much you pay. Commuters in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton are seeing the highest costs at around $3.08 per gallon, while drivers in the Panhandle, specifically Crestview and Fort Walton Beach, are enjoying much lower rates near $2.60.
To fight the rising costs, experts suggest a few common-sense adjustments. Small changes like combining your errands into one trip, cleaning out heavy junk from the trunk, and avoiding “jackrabbit” starts at traffic lights can improve fuel efficiency. Additionally, many local retailers offer a discount for paying in cash rather than using a credit card.
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