Transportation costs rising in Florida

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(The Center Square) – Gas prices for Florida drivers are climbing at the fastest rate in four years with the average statewide price jumping more than $1 per gallon with no signs of slowing, the AAA reported this week.

In just a few weeks, the average prices rose from $2.88 per gallon to $3.95 per gallon, making drivers dish out an additional $16 more on average to fill a typical 15-gallon gas tank, according to AAA.

The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, and the prices of fuel have climbed since. Global energy infrastructure has been impacted by the action and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Second-term Republican President Donald Trump has said energy costs are a “very small price to pay” in comparison to neutralizing Iran’s threat to America and securing long-term worldwide security. Americans, according to polls, have mixed opinion short of full agreement.

Monday represented Day 24 of Operation Epic Fury.

“Global events can hit drivers’ wallets quickly, and that is exactly what we are seeing right now,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. “When oil prices spike this fast, refineries pay more for fuel, and those costs reach consumers almost immediately. Unfortunately, Florida drivers should expect continued volatility as long as global supply concerns remain unresolved.”

Florida’s average gas price is up by $1.07 per gallon, with some areas having prices climb above $4 per gallon. It’s the highest gas prices the state has seen since July 2022.

In West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, the average price of gas is $4.08 per gallon. In Naples it’s $4. Even the least expensive metro markets like Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Panama City have average gas prices ranging from $3.64 to $3.70, AAA reported.

The national average is faring about the same ($3.95).

Democratic lawmakers have advocated for suspending the state’s gas tax as a response to rising prices, but that’s not likely to happen.

“Floridians were already struggling with the skyrocketing cost of living and now they’re being squeezed even more at the pump,” said Florida House Democratic Caucus Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa. “Despite Democrats talking about it every week, this legislative session has been a failure to help Florida’s working families and seniors. The least we could do is to suspend this tax and save people a few dollars every time they fill up.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared to shut down that idea during a speech in Bradenton last week. While acknowledging that gas prices have had “a pretty abrupt shift upward,” he went on to say that he didn’t know that there’s going to be any simple fix.

“Our ability to influence the fuel prices are really marginal at best,” the governor said. "We have done gas holidays in the past. Sometimes the price just gets raised so that the consumer doesn’t see any difference. If the gas is $4 a gallon, whether you’re paying tax or not, if you’re paying $4 that’s what people notice."

He added that bringing down the price of oil is more “in the bucket of the federal government than us.”