Gas prices continue to take a toll on wallets in Florida. The average price this Tuesday stands at $4.24 per gallon, about $1.14 higher than a year ago, after reaching $4.33 on Friday, its highest daily level since May 2026, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Although the price has declined from last week's peak, the relief remains limited.
Regular gasoline costs about 12 cents more than it did a week ago and 36 cents more than it did a month ago.
The national average stood at 4.48 dollars per gallon this Tuesday.
The surge was particularly intense last week, when prices rose by up to 21 cents per gallon and reached $4.33 on Friday, before beginning to decline over the weekend.
The impact on the wallet
With the current average, filling a 15-gallon tank costs about $63.63 in Florida, around $5.41 more than a month ago and $17.08 more than a year ago.
The year-on-year comparison more clearly reflects the extent of the increase in prices.
The gallon of regular gasoline now costs about 1.14 dollars more than it did 12 months ago, when the state average was 3.10 dollars. A month ago, the price was 3.88 dollars per gallon.
Prices also show significant differences across various areas of Florida.
The markets in the southern part of the state remain among the most expensive, while several areas of the Panhandle report lower values.
Metropolitan figures can vary daily, which is why the AAA keeps its local averages updated along with the state average.
Diesel is nearing its historic high
The situation is even more extreme in the case of diesel.
Its state average stood at $6.26 per gallon this Tuesday, just 9 cents below Florida's historical record of $6.35, recorded on September 18.
The current price also represents a significant jump from the $5.50 of a month ago and, especially, compared to the $3.60 recorded a year ago. Year-over-year, diesel costs approximately $2.66 more per gallon.
Nationally, diesel reached $5.88 per gallon during Labor Day weekend, amid the strong pressure that oil prices have exerted on fuels.
The Middle East puts pressure on fuel prices
The AAA attributes much of the price increase to the rise in crude oil prices, which climbed by about 27% in three weeks amid geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA —The Auto Club Group—, explained the impact of this situation on the market: “Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have created uncertainty regarding global oil supplies.”
The situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main strategic routes for global oil transportation, has added volatility to the energy market.
Jenkins had already warned in mid-September that if oil prices remained high, drivers could face additional pressure on gasoline prices.
A rise that began in early 2026
The sharp increase in fuel prices did not begin in September.
Prices began to rise during the early months of 2026, in parallel with the increasing tensions in the Middle East and the escalation of oil prices.
In Florida, gasoline prices reached around $4.56 per gallon in May.
Subsequently, the price fell back and temporarily dipped below 4 dollars, before rising again in September.
The difference compared to the beginning of the year is significant.
At the end of January, the average was around 2.90 dollars per gallon, far below the 4.24 dollars recorded this Tuesday.
The evolution of prices over the coming weeks will largely depend on the behavior of oil and the situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, drivers in Florida continue to pay over $4 per gallon for regular gasoline and are facing diesel prices very close to the state's historical record.
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