Higher Pump Prices, Less Labor Day Travel
MIAMI (CBS4) – Fewer people were expected to hit the road this Labor Day weekend compared to last year; those that do will find that gas prices in Florida are up a bit from last week.
Nationwide, gas prices rose about six cents in the last week to an average of $3.67 for a gallon of regular unleaded, according to GasBuddy.com. In Florida, the price at the price increase has been about five cents in the last week to the current average of $3.62 a gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. Last year at this time, regular unleaded was averaging $2.62 a gallon across the state.
In Miami-Dade, drivers have seen the price at the pump jump nearly four cents in the last week to an average of $3.74 for a gallon of unleaded regular. A year ago, the price of unleaded regular in the area averaged about a buck less at $2.71 a gallon. Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach, where unleaded regular is averaging $3.76 a gallon, are the most expensive places to fill up in the state.
In Ft. Lauderdale drivers are paying about $3.72 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded compared to $3.68 a week ago. Last year at this time regular unleaded averaged $2.68 a gallon.
Orlando and Tampa, where unleaded regular is averaging $3.55 and $3.56 a gallon respectively, are some of the cheapest places in the state to fill up.
Because gas prices are up nearly a dollar a gallon compared last year's Labor Day weekend, the American Automobile Association predicted 31.5 million people would travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend; that's a 2.4 percent drop in traffic this year compared to last year.
Check out the cheapest gas prices in your neighborhood at FloridaGasPrices.com.