SARASOTA – Gas prices are climbing even higher, nearing record highs.
“Right now people are paying about 20 dollars more for a full tank of gas then what they were paying this time last year,” said AAA Spokesman, Mark Jenkins.
According to AAA, the average price of gas in Florida was $4.20 on Sunday, which is 2 cents more than it was last week and 14 cents more than it was two weeks ago. Noteworthy gains in oil resulted in additional increases at the pump this week.
“There’s a lot of countries looking at putting a ban on Russian oil so were looking at finding oil elsewhere at a time where there is less supply out there and on top of all that were seeing people begin to drive more, beginning to take those trips so that increase in demand is putting a strain on those existing supplies,” said Jenkins.
High prices are not only on the rise at the pump…
“With higher gas prices that often means more expensive prices in the grocery store, because it does cost more money to transport those items from the warehouse to the grocery stores,” said Jenkins.
For a Bay Area resident, living in a camper on the road with her family has become more expensive.
“We’ve found central Florida especially around the gulf coast to be a lot higher than even in the keys, we just came from there and filled for $4.09 and I’m pulling in at $4.29 at this gas station so I hesitate to even fill our tank,” said a Bay Area resident.
Her family has noticed their purchases are pricier on the Suncoast.
“All the way from our fast food, to tobacco products, there almost doubled to what normal prices would be,” said a Bay Area resident.
She is hoping prices will be more reasonable in the future.
“We’re just being patient with it, but I’m hoping that is eases up for families who really are just make ends meet or do what’s best for their family,” said a Bay Area resident.
Locally, gas prices vary $4.10 and up in Punta Gorda to $4.17 and up in Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice.
