Palm Beach County gas prices increase amid spike statewide heading into New Year's weekend

Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
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Motorists in Palm Beach County are paying more at the gas pump this week amid increases statewide heading into the busy New Year's Day weekend.

The average cost per gallon for regular unleaded gas in Florida on Thursday, Dec. 28, was $3.11, up 4 cents from the previous week, according to AAA-The Auto Group South. The per-gallon average for gas in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton metro market was 18 cents higher at $3.29 per gallon.

The increase comes a little more than a week after a two-year low was reported statewide. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida on Sunday, Dec. 17, was $2.86.

Drivers may continue to see pump prices fluctuate slightly during this heavy travel season, according to a AAA statement released shortly before the Christmas holiday.

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“Daily gas prices will likely move back and forth for the next month or so. Looking back at pre-pandemic 2019, the national average did not make a firm turn to moving higher daily until Valentine’s Day, February 14," AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said.

Why did gas prices go up in Palm Beach County?

Gasoline prices in Florida have jumped by double digits over the past week.
Gasoline prices in Florida have jumped by double digits over the past week.

This week's $3.29 per-gallon price in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton metro market is the highest in Florida and up from $3.09 a week ago, AAA said.

Palm Beach County's prices are higher than other parts of the state because of a local tax on gasoline sales. Naples had the second-most expensive gas this week at $3.18 per gallon.

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach in Florida's Panhandle had the least expensive gas with an average of $2.81 per gallon. Some Palm Beach County locations, primarily in the north end, were also posting gas prices below $3.

The following per-gallon prices were posted on Thursday, Dec. 28, on the website www.GasBuddy.com and represent the lowest for these parts of Palm Beach County.

GasBuddy list these gas prices throughout Palm Beach County

  • Northern Palm Beach County: Rocket Fuel, 100 N. Federal Highway, North Palm Beach, $2.55.

  • Central Palm Beach County: Sam's Club, 4295 45th St., West Palm Beach, $2.59.

  • Western Palm Beach County: Costco, 11001 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, $2.94.

  • Southern Palm Beach County: BJ's Wholesale Club, 1540 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, $2.79.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Gas prices near me: Palm Beach County drivers pay more at pump