Tampa, FL – Gas prices have declined 14 of the last 16 days. During that time, the national average price has declined 2 cents. Pump prices have drifted lower on increased inventories and declining oil prices.
“Gas prices are falling now, but fundamentals are pointing higher,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gulf Coast refineries are moving into their peak maintenance season, causing them to reduce gasoline production at a time when demand is slowly rising. This seasonal trend, could push gas prices 25-50 cents higher by June, unless oil prices do not recover as expected.”
[1]Crude oil prices recorded a new 2017 low last week.
Crude oil prices recorded a new 2017 low of $47.72, but returned to nearly $49.00 a barrel by the end of the week.
Conversations swirled following comments from the Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, that OPEC would be willing to extend production cuts beyond the six-month agreement, especially if global inventories stay bloated.
The energy minister’s comments gave little support to the market as the OPEC production freeze continues to be diluted by elevated U.S. production. Oil service company, Baker Hughes, reported that the U.S. rig count increased again last week when producers added 14 drilling rigs in the United States.
Traders will continue to watch whether OPEC and non-OPEC members make moves to further cut production in an attempt to balance the global oil supply. The most recent EIA forecast has WTI crude ranging from $46.00-$63.00 a barrel in May.
Fuel Fundamentals
(Based on weekly data provided by the EIA)
- U.S. crude inventories decreased 0.2 million barrels last week. However, at 528.2 million barrels, supplies remain well above the upper limit of the average range for this time of year.
- Domestic crude production increased 0.23 percent to 9.1 million barrels a day – the highest level since February 2016.
- Gasoline demand declined slightly by 0.15 percent. Demand is 2.2 percent lower than this time last year and nearly 5 percent lower than the 2016 summer average.
- Gasoline inventories in the gulf coast rose slightly from 79.3 to 80 million barrels. Nationwide the number declined by 3 million barrels. Declining inventories can signal rising gas prices.
- Gasoline production declined nearly 3 percent at gulf coast refineries. This is to be expected as refineries reduce output during refinery maintenance season.
- Refineries operated at nearly 86 percent capacity – a decline of three percentage points; 4 percentage points lower than this time last year. Declining refinery output can be a sign of rising gas prices.
Regional Gas Prices
Florida gas prices averaged $2.264 on Sunday – 2 cents less than a week and month ago, 23 cents more than a year ago.
- The most expensive metro markets are West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($2.48), Miami ($2.41), and Fort Lauderdale ($2.41)
- The least expensive metro markets are Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($2.15), Jacksonville ($2.16), and Orlando ($2.16)
Georgia gas prices averaged $2.17 on Sunday – 2 cents less than a week ago, 1-cent less than a month ago, and 21 cents more than a year ago.
- The most expensive metro markets in the state are Atlanta ($2.19), Savannah ($2.19), and Athens ($2.15)
- The least expensive metro markets in the state are Augusta-Aiken ($2.07), Macon ($2.10), and Albany ($2.12)
Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.04 on Sunday – 1-cent less than a week ago, 2 cents less than a month ago, and 22 cents more than a year ago.
- The most expensive metro markets in the state are Memphis ($2.08), Nashville ($2.07), and Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol ($2.02)
- The least expensive metro markets in the state are Chattanooga ($1.98), Clarksville-Hopkinsville ($2.00), and Knoxville ($2.01)
Motorists can find the lowest gas prices in their area by downloading the free AAA Mobile app [2].
Current and Past Price Averages
Regular Unleaded Gasoline
 |
Sunday | Saturday | Week Ago | Month Ago | One Year Ago | Highest Recorded Average |
| National | $2.293 | $2.294 | $2.298 | $2.283 | $1.981 | $4.114 (7/17/08) |
| Florida | $2.264 | $2.266 | $2.278 | $2.283 | $2.028 | $4.079 (7/16/08) |
| Georgia | $2.169 | $2.172 | $2.188 | $2.182 | $1.936 | $4.164 (9/15/08) |
| Tennessee | $2.041 | $2.042 | $2.053 | $2.063 | $1.819 | $4.118 (9/15/08) |
| Click here [3] to view current gasoline price averages | ||||||
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com [3]. Every day up to 120,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability.
All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.
About The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to over 9 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana.
ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 56 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety.