Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
If you’re wondering why the sudden surge in gasoline prices, look to the artic blast that wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast refinery region last week, according to the American Automotive Association (AAA).
On average, according to the AAA, Florida gas prices jumped 15 cents last week, with drivers now paying an average price of $2.61 per gallon at the pump, the highest daily gas price average since July 2019.
“This pump price hike is similar to what you’d expect if a hurricane struck the Gulf Coast region,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for the AAA – the Auto Club Group. “Just like in the aftermath of a hurricane, workers are working to return to normal operations.”
He added that any reports of extended downtime or significant supply impacts could well cause another round of rising prices.
The cause of the surge, according to the AAA, is that power outages that took place at gasoline refineries in Texas and neighboring states, affected the fuel shipments out of the area.
Florida, as it happens, gets much of its gasoline from the refineries in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
“So, an interruption to the supply line there has a direct impact on prices here,” Jenkins said.
Florida is not alone in being impacted, however. The Gulf Coast region is reported to be a major source of gasoline nationally, accounting for more than 45 percent of the total U.S. petroleum refining capacity, of which a little more than 50 percent was impacted by the cold weather.
“Although there is not currently a gasoline supply shortage, concerns about reductions in gasoline production caused fuel prices to climb,” Jenkins said.
Statewide, the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas in Florida on Monday, Feb. 22, was $2.608, compared with $2.635 nationally. Across the state, the per-gallon prices ranged from $2.463 to $2.711.
A week earlier, the average cost of gasoline in Florida had been $2.463 per gallon.
In Jefferson County on Monday, the average cost of a gallon of gasoline was $2.675, compared with $2.567 in Taylor County and $2.593 in Leon County, according to the AAA.