Florida gas prices kick off 2025 slightly higher than last year

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Florida drivers are beginning the new year with slightly higher gas prices compared to the same time in 2024, according to AAA.

As of Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, the state average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.11, a four-cent increase over last year’s rate.

GasBuddy.com reports that the lowest price in Ocala is $2.83 at the 7-Eleven located at 5670 SW College Rd.

“Although the daily average price is slightly more expensive, Florida gas prices remain within the same range they’ve been in for the past four months,” says Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group.

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Despite the slight uptick to start the year, AAA says that Florida motorists generally paid less at the pump in 2024 than in 2023. The average price for gas in 2024 was $3.29 per gallon, compared to $3.41 per gallon in 2023. Additionally, the peak daily average in 2024—$3.64 per gallon in May—was significantly lower than the 2023 high of $3.85 per gallon in August.

The lowest gas prices of 2024 were recorded in December, with the state average dipping to $2.99 per gallon. In 2023, the lowest daily average price was $2.85, also recorded in December.

Lower crude oil prices played a major role in keeping gas prices in check last year. U.S. crude oil prices averaged $75.79 per barrel in 2024, nearly $2 less than the 2023 average.

However, crude oil prices have started to trend upward again. On Friday, oil prices closed at $73.96 per barrel, marking the highest daily settlement since mid-October. AAA says that the recent increase is attributed to cold weather in the U.S. and Europe, which has driven up demand for heating oil, as well as renewed optimism about the Chinese economy. As the world’s largest oil importer, China’s economic activity is closely tied to global oil demand.

As the new year unfolds, AAA says that Florida drivers will likely see continued fluctuations at the pump, influenced by global crude oil trends and seasonal demand patterns.