Gas Price Report For September 25, 2017

Another Week, And Another Nickel Comes Off The Price Of Gas

Gas price trend for week of September 25, 2017 Fort Lauderdale, FL – The cost of gas fell another nickel on the week, according to the latest fuel price survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In fact, the E.I.A. report shows the cost of gas declined by exactly the same amount for the second consecutive week, 5.1¢ per gallon, a bit of an oddity in the weekly survey. Nonetheless, the price decline was good news for the nation’s drivers, now paying an average of $2.58 per gallon for regular unleaded. Prices fell in all regions this week, though declines were varied, from as little as about two cents across the Rockies and the far West Coast, to as must as eight cents per gallon, on average, across the Midwest region. For the second time in as many weeks, that region enjoyed the lowest average fuel price in the nation, a position usually held by the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast was the only region where diesel fuel prices declined noticeably. The E.I.A.’s district-by-district survey of fuel costs shows the cost of an average gallon of diesel remained static this week, holding at $2.79 per gallon. Prices in the Gulf region declined two cents, however, while prices across the Rockies went up about two cents per gallon. Regional cost averages for both gasoline and diesel are listed below, showing the current week and previous week. Prices are ranked from highest to lowest price.

Regional Gasoline Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.004 / $3.022: PADD 5 WEST COAST (INCL. CA)
$2.765 / $2.779: PADD 5 WEST COAST (W/O CA)
$2.704 / $2.740: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.701 / $2.764: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.642 / $2.691: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.582 / $2.599: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.580 / $2.622: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.423 / $2.465: PADD 3 GULF COAST
$2.367 / $2.446: PADD 2 MIDWEST

Regional Diesel Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.103 / $3.103: PADD 5 WEST COAST
$2.925 / $2.919: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.832 / $2.813: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.811 / $2.814: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.762 / $2.765: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.741 / $2.743: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.740 / $2.749: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.624 / $2.615: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Note: PADD is an acronym for Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts.

Gas Price Report For September 18, 2017

Gas Prices Fall Over Five Cents On The Week

Gas price trend for week of September 18, 2017 Fort Lauderdale, FL – The cost of gas fell over a nickel per gallon during the past week, according to the latest pricing survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The E.I.A. report offers up some relief for drivers, who have been shocked in recent weeks by intense price increases, which resulted from refinery shutdowns in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The average price, nationwide, for a gallon of regular unleaded fell to about $2.63 this week, down from nearly $2.69 last week. Prices fell in all regions this week, including the Lower Atlantic states, which include the states of Florida and Georgia. Despite a spike in consumer demand as the result of Hurricane Irma, the price in Lower Atlantic fell nearly four cents per gallon. The biggest price decline was found in the Midwest, known for pricing volatility. From Chicago to Cleveland, the cost of gas plunged an average of 9.5¢ per gallon across the region, the E.I.A. reported this week. That decline gives the Midwest the distinction of having the lowest average fuel prices among the survey districts, a position usually held by the Gulf Coast. Diesel fuel prices declined, but in moderation, compared to the price of regular gas. The average cost of a gallon of diesel is now about $2.79 per gallon, according to the E.I.A. survey. Regional cost averages for both gasoline and diesel are listed below, showing the current week and previous week. Prices are ranked from highest to lowest price.

Regional Gasoline Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.022 / $3.038: PADD 5 WEST COAST (INCL. CA)
$2.779 / $2.784: PADD 5 WEST COAST (W/O CA)
$2.764 / $2.808: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.740 / $2.764: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.691 / $2.730: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.622 / $2.661: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.599 / $2.611: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.465 / $2.501: PADD 3 GULF COAST
$2.446 / $2.541: PADD 2 MIDWEST

Regional Diesel Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.103 / $3.102: PADD 5 WEST COAST
$2.919 / $2.992: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.814 / $2.829: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.813 / $2.827: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.765 / $2.761: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.749 / $2.776: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.743 / $2.753: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.615 / $2.647: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Note: PADD is an acronym for Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts.

Gas Price Update For September 11, 2017

Report delayed to September 12, 2017 due to compulsory evacuations as a result of Hurricane Irma. We are reporting this week from north Georgia.

Gas Prices Nudge Higher As Hurricane Irma Tears Into Florida, Georgia

Gas price trend for week of September 11, 2017 Oakwood, GA – The cost of driving increased again during the past week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The E.I.A.’s weekly price survey shows the cost of fuel increased another penny per gallon to nearly $2.69 per gallon of regular unleaded. The weekly price increase was relatively tame, however, compared with the shocking price hikes experienced only a week earlier, when Hurricane Harvey forced the closure of refineries across Texas and Louisiana. Prices went up, once again, in all regions, and it was unclear what impact the landfall of Hurricane Irma on Florida may have on the cost of gas prices in the Lower Atlantic region, which will likely be reflected in next week’s pricing survey. Meanwhile, prices across the Lower Atlantic region, like most regions, were up about a half cent per gallon. Prices across the West Coast and New England were up two cents per gallon, on average, dragging the nation’s averages higher this week. Diesel fuel prices also took another hit this week, rising over four cents per gallon. The average cost of a gallon of diesel is now over $2.80, while prices in some regions, particularly the West Coast, are now well in excess of $3.00. Regional cost averages for both gasoline and diesel are listed below, showing the current week and previous week. Prices are ranked from highest to lowest price.

Regional Gasoline Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.038 / $3.017: PADD 5 WEST COAST (INCL. CA)
$2.784 / $2.763: PADD 5 WEST COAST (W/O CA)
$2.808 / $2.804: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.764 / $2.745: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.730 / $2.723: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.661 / $2.656: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.611 / $2.606: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.541 / $2.539: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.501 / $2.506: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Regional Diesel Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION


$3.102 / $3.044: PADD 5 WEST COAST
$2.992 / $2.886: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.827 / $2.798: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.829 / $2.785: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.776 / $2.725: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.761 / $2.723: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.753 / $2.707: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.647 / $2.615: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Note: PADD is an acronym for Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts.

'Catastrophic' Hurricane Irma Threatens Florida East Coast

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:26 p.m., Wednesday, September 6, in order to reflect the latest forecast and evacuation data.

Mandatory Evacuations Ordered For Coastal Residents

Hurricane Irma forecast track.
The projected track of Hurricane Irma, as issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Graphic: NOAA.

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Hurricane Irma now threatens the Florida east coast, according to the National Hurricane Center, and forecasters announced they would likely begin issuing hurricane watches for the Florida peninsula on Thursday. The system will impact South Florida, and  Florida’s Turnpike, by as early as Friday evening, and to forecasters say the massive category 5 storm could inflict ‘catastrophic’ wind and rain damage to affected areas into early next week.
The storm moved over the eastern Leeward Islands overnight Wednesday morning, making landfall on the British Virgin Islands, and dealing a blow to Puerto Rico, shortly thereafter. The storm is expected to continue to barrel its way on a west-northwesterly trek through the Caribbean through the next two to three days.

Hurricane Irma's projected wind field
The forecast wind field impact timeline for Hurricane Irma, through Sunday. Whether the storm remains off shore or strikes the peninsula, it will have a significant impact on South Florida, forecasters say. Graphic: NOAA.

The problem for Florida comes this weekend, and particularly Sunday evening into Monday morning, when the storm is expected to slip to the west of a high pressure ridge, allowing Irma to turn to the north. Forecasters do not have a firm handle on precisely where the turn will happen. If Irma turns sooner, rather than later, the eye wall would remain offshore of Florida’s peninsula. However, the massive storm, which has winds extending out 175 miles from its center, is expected to impact Florida’s east coast, whether off shore or not. That means regardless of whether the storm makes landfall, its impact will be unavoidable.

Evacuations Ordered For Florida Keys And Florida Peninsula

That forecast, and the storm’s potential for a life-threatening impact, have forced officials across South Florida to issue mandatory evacuation orders. Visitors in the Florida Keys were ordered to evacuate beginning Wednesday morning, and residents went under a mandatory evacuation Wednesday night.
Residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas of Broward County, which includes areas of Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, also are under a mandatory evacuation order beginning Thursday. Miami-Dade County issued evacuation orders later on Wednesday for much of its barrier islands, which includes Miami Beach.

Tolls Suspended On Florida Roads As Evacuation Traffic Builds

Meanwhile, tolls were suspended Tuesday afternoon for all Florida toll roads and bridges. Governor Rick Scott issued the order around 3:30 p.m., saying the move was necessary to help residents and visitors easily evacuate if necessary.
The Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike, which runs through Miami-Dade County, was already showing heavy traffic at its south end, in Florida City and Homestead, where residents and visitors fleeing the Florida Keys will connect with the roadway to evacuate.
Chad Huff, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said officials had not made a decision to change the traffic pattern on the turnpike, although that contingency does exist to aid evacuation. However, he could offer no timeline on when any decision to change the traffic flow would be made.

Gas Price Update For September 4, 2017

Report released September 5, 2017 due to Labor Day Holiday.

Gas Prices Surge As Hurricane Harvey Shutters Refineries In Texas

Gas price trend for week of September 4, 2017
Fort Lauderdale – The 2017 hurricane season has taken its toll on fuel prices nationwide, with gas prices making steep gains in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The storm resulting in a number of refineries shutting down across Texas and into Louisiana, choking the nation’s fuel supply and driving the national average price up by 28¢ per gallon. The nation’s average gas price, which was $2.40 last week, lurched upward to $2.68 for a gallon of regular unleaded. The figures are detailed in a weekly fuel price survey compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Every region took a hit, from the Gulf Coast, the site of Harvey’s impact, all the way to New England, where prices rose 35¢ and 36¢, respectively. Prices in the Lower Atlantic states, now potentially threatened by Hurricane Irma, rose by nearly 41¢ per gallon.
The lowest price increases were seen in areas where prices were already the highest in the nation, notably the West Coast and the Rocky Mountains. But these regions also have more direct access to other fuel sources, and prices were only up between 11 and 14 cents per gallon, respectively. Still, the price increases were substantial enough that the West Coast region now has an official gas price above the $3.00 mark.
Diesel fuel prices pinched at the wallets of truckers, too, but not nearly as much. Nationwide, the cost of diesel rose about 15¢ per gallon to $2.76.
Regional cost averages for both gasoline and diesel are listed below, showing the current week and previous week. Prices are ranked from highest to lowest price.

Regional Gasoline Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.017 / $2.903: PADD 5 WEST COAST (INCL. CA)
$2.763 / $2.674: PADD 5 WEST COAST (W/O CA)
$2.804 / $2.435: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.745 / $2.388: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.723 / $2.337: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.656 / $2.249: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.606 / $2.468: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.539 / $2.307: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.506 / $2.156: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Regional Diesel Averages:

THIS WK / LAST WK: REGION

$3.044 / $2.910: PADD 5 WEST COAST
$2.886 / $2.758: PADD 1b CENTRAL ATLANTIC
$2.798 / $2.717: PADD 4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN
$2.785 / $2.623: PADD 1 EAST COAST
$2.725 / $2.528: PADD 1c LOWER ATLANTIC
$2.723 / $2.618: PADD 1a NEW ENGLAND
$2.707 / $2.566: PADD 2 MIDWEST
$2.615 / $2.428: PADD 3 GULF COAST

Note: PADD is an acronym for Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts.

Hurricane Irma Forces Florida Evacuations

Tolls Suspended Across Florida’s Turnpike, Other Toll Roads

Fort Lauderdale – Tolls on Florida’s Turnpike, and all toll roads in the Sunshine State, have been suspended as Hurricane Irma makes its approach through the Caribbean. Governor Rick Scott made the announcement mid-afternoon Tuesday, saying the suspension of tolls will make it easier for Floridians and visitors to “more easily be able to prepare for any potential storm impacts … and quickly and safely evacuate when necessary.”

Pompano Service Plaza gas station
Workers at service plaza gas stations in South Florida, including the Shell at the Pompano Beach Plaza, pictured here in a 2016 file photo, reported plenty of fuel available, with no expected interruption in the delivery of new supplies.

Hurricane Irma has blown up into a super hurricane, with winds of 185 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center in MIami. That makes Irma the second-most powerful storm in history, only behind Hurricane Allen, which struck the Caribbean in 1980. At one point, Allen had winds of 190 miles per hour.

Hurricane Irma forecast track
Hurricane Irma’s forecast track, from the National Hurricane Center, issued at 5 p.m. on September 5.

For its part, Hurricane Irma is due to strike the northern Leeward Islands, east of Puerto Rico, tonight, and Puerto Rico, itself, on Wednesday. South Florida and the Florida Keys are currently in the forecast “cone”, or the projected path of the storm, which includes a margin of error. But Key West currently has a target on it, as the NHC forecast takes the storm’s path nearly directly over the island by Sunday.

Evacuation Orders Planned Wednesday In South Florida

That forecast track has forced officials set planned mandatory evacuations of the Keys beginning on Wednesday for visitors and residents, although the precise time of Wednesday’s expected evacuation order had not been determined.

Government offices in Miami-Dade County, along with schools, will be closed on Thursday and Friday so residents may prepare for the storm or evacuate. All school and park activities were also suspended. However, county officials had not yet issued any evacuation orders.

In Broward County and Fort Lauderdale, location of the home office of TurnpikeInfo.com, government emergency operations centers were activated, but no evacuation orders had yet been issued as of Tuesday evening.

Elsewhere, traffic on Florida’s Turnpike appeared light in most areas, and gas stations at service plazas in South Florida reported fuel available at both the Snapper Creek Service Plaza in Miami-Dade and the Pompano Beach Service Plaza in Broward County.