OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Florida gas prices were changeable again last week, continuing a trend that has stuck for months. After dropping to a 15-month low of $2.96 per gallon last Monday, the state average spiked 19 cents to $3.15 per gallon by Thursday. That figure is just 8 cents shy of the highest daily average recorded this year.

“Florida gas prices followed a familiar trend of rising in the first half of the week, then falling through the weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This cycle has carried on since September, with pump prices mostly swinging between $3 per gallon and $3.20 per gallon.”

By Sunday, Florida’s average price settled at $3.11 per gallon. That’s 14 cents higher than the previous week, matches the average from a month ago, and is still 49 cents less than prices at this time last year.

National crude oil prices also surged. On Friday, U.S. crude closed at $69.36 per barrel, marking the most expensive week of March – roughly $2 more per barrel than the prior three-week average.

Ocala drivers are seeing a better deal, though, with GasBuddy.com reporting the lowest price at Walmart on SR-200 at just $2.81 per gallon as of Sunday evening.

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