Average retail gasoline prices in Florida have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.81/g today.

This compares with the national average that has increased 3.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.78/g, according to gasoline price website FloridaStateGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Florida during the past week, prices today

are 86.1 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 19.2

cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased

16.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 88.4 cents per gallon

higher than this day a year ago.

“We’re starting off March like a lion with little hope of it going out like a

lamb”, said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy.com senior petroleum Analyst.

“While conventional wisdom tells us demand will increase as we move towards warmer weather, it appears that gasoline price increases have easily outpaced any potential increases in demand thus far. On that note, I expect most of the

country to flirt with prices near or over $3/gallon come Memorial Day, with the

exception of California, where prices will average near $3.35/gallon”, he said.

DeHaan also said that the only bright spot for motorists this year is that

plenty of spare refining capacity and lower gasoline demand than years prior

will keep gasoline prices from rising to record highs.