WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Motorists can expect a little relief at the pump as they prepare for the holiday weekend.
A spike in Florida gasoline prices earlier last week was fully reversed by Monday and is actually slightly below year-ago levels, according to AAA. More importantly, though, people looking to take advantage of the unofficial end of summer will likely find prices at their lowest in three years.
“Low oil prices have kept prices at the pump in check,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “Floridians planning to travel over Labor Day weekend will likely find the lowest gas prices for the holiday weekend in three years.”
A week before Labor Day, Florida residents statewide paid an average of $3.29 per gallon, up from $3.68 last year and $3.52 the year before, AAA reported.
Of course, this applies to all of Florida. As usual, people in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area have to dig deeper into their pockets. According to AAA, Palm Beach County is one of the most expensive counties in the state, where a gallon of regular gasoline costs about $3.44. That’s a far cry from the nearly $3.02 that drivers in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach shell out.
Cities along the Treasure Coast are much closer to the norm, with Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties all having prices just a few cents above the state average.
See also: A 21-year-old passenger is killed and another is seriously injured in a high-speed accident in WPB
AAA expects Labor Day weekend travel to decline 2% this year. That’s good news for even more people, as leisure travel is expected to increase 9%.
“Americans see the long Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say goodbye to summer with one last trip,” said AAA Vice President of Travel Debbie Haas. “With many children already back in school, regional road trips are the most popular option for families.”
Not surprisingly, many vacationers are in the Sunshine State mood. While Seattle is the most popular Labor Day destination, Orlando is a close second.
Find more ways to stay up to date with the latest local news. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day’s top headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the most important stories and videos you can’t miss.
