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Gas Prices Hit 4 Year High In September

energy.gov
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energy.gov

Gas prices jumped a dime a gallon last week to close out the month with the highest prices Floridians have seen in four years, according to AAA.

Prices averaged $2.77 last month, up nine cents from September 2017 and 59 cents more than September 2016.

"Concerns about how sanctions against Iranian crude will impact global oil supply began to weigh on the market last week," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman,  AAA - The Auto Club Group in an email to WJCT News. "Crude oil prices climbed and dragged gasoline prices higher as a result. The $5 per barrel shift in crude can signal a 25 cent hike at the pump,” Jenkins added.

Related: Constantly Updated List Of Lowest Gas Prices In Jacksonville

Jacksonville has among the lowest prices in Florida at $2.79, according to AAA. Tallahassee and Punta Gorda were tied for the lowest price at $2.78.

West Palm Beach-Boca Raton had the highest price at $2.91.

“Low seasonal gasoline demand and a cheaper-to-produce winter-blend gasoline may offset some of that upward pressure," said Jenkins. 

Pump prices are 20 cents per gallon more than this time last year, according to AAA but down a dime from this year's high, which occurred during the Memorial Day weekend.

Average September Gas Prices

                 2014 2015 2016 20172018

National$3.39$2.34$2.20$2.62$2.85

Florida   $3.32  $2.20$2.18 $2.68 $2.77

Georgia$3.32  $2.19$2.22$2.69$2.72

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

Bill joined WJCT News in September of 2017 from The Florida Times-Union, where he served in a variety of multimedia journalism positions.