Florida gas prices surge as some stations charge over $5

Drivers in Florida are paying more at the pump as petrol prices continue to climb, with some stations already charging more than $5 a gallon for regular gas. On Wednesday, September 23, gas prices at a Delray Beach Shell station hit $5.19 a gallon, Reuters reported.

Some rural stations are charging even more.The statewide average reached $4.29 a gallon on Wednesday, the highest since May, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). Prices continue to rise. One DeLand station off Interstate 4 was charging $5.39 for regular gas for those who pay in cash, and $5.49 for credit card users. Its premium blend, Amoco Ultimate, now costs $6.19 a gallon in cash and $6.29 by credit card.

In Miami Beach, a Shell at 508 Arthur Godfrey Road hit $5.59, while a nearby Chevron sat at $5.09.

Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach reported similarly steep prices at major chains.

What’s causing the surge?

The latest increase in gas prices in Florida, and nationwide, is being driven by a sharp rise in global oil prices. Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, including attacks affecting tankers and other energy infrastructure, have disrupted or restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and increased fears of supply shortages, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with about 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passing through it each day, accounting for roughly 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade.Restrictions on shipping through the Strait have raised concerns about how much oil can reach global markets. This matters because crude oil is the biggest component of petrol and diesel prices, and global supply and demand influence wholesale prices, pushing up costs for motorists in Florida and across the US.

Several Florida stations are already selling gas for more than $5

The $5 threshold is no longer limited to one unusually expensive station. The mobile app GasBuddy listings on Wednesday showed several Florida stations selling regular gasoline above $5 a gallon. In Miami Beach, a Shell station at 508 Arthur Godfrey Road was listed at $5.59 a gallon, while a Chevron at 1453 Alton Road was charging $5.09.In Fort Lauderdale, one Shell station at 1420 East Sunrise Boulevard was listed at $5.27 a gallon.

In Delray Beach, a Mobil station at 8081 Congress Avenue was selling regular gasoline for $5.04 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. The app reports gas prices at individual stations across the nation, based on motorists’ reports.Meanwhile, the BP station in DeLand was not included in the GasBuddy listings. The station is known for charging significantly more than the average price in the Daytona Beach and Volusia County area.In Florida, gas prices are rising sharply. On Wednesday, the statewide average reached $4.29 a gallon, up five cents from $4.24 the previous day, AAA Auto Club said. This organisation reports average prices for gasoline and diesel for metro areas, cities, counties and states across the country each morning, based on its comprehensive survey of the final credit card purchases for fuel the night before.As of September 23, Florida’s average price for regular gas was 10 cents higher than a week ago, 43 cents higher than a month ago and $1.23 higher than a year ago, AAA said.Florida has not yet reached its all-time record for regular gasoline. The state's highest statewide average was in June 2022, at $4.89 a gallon. This was during the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The highest national record was $5.01, which was set in June 2022. At $4.29, Florida's current average is 60 cents below that record. However, as individual stations have already surpassed $5, it indicates how prices can differ from the statewide average.