Florida drivers are paying significantly more at the pump after a rapid spike in gas prices over the past two weeks. The state average climbed 84 cents over just 12 days, reaching $3.72 per gallon as of Sunday — the highest daily average since August 2023, according to AAA. That increase translates to roughly $12 more to fill an average-sized gas tank compared to a month ago.

Sunday’s price was 27 cents higher than the week prior, 84 cents higher than a month ago, and 61 cents above the same time last year.

AAA attributes the spike largely to volatility in global fuel markets driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran. In the first week of the conflict, U.S. oil prices surged 36 percent, rising nearly $24 per barrel amid concerns over supply disruptions and instability along major oil shipping routes. Prices climbed further late last week, adding another $8 per barrel.

Florida ranks among the states with the steepest increases nationally. Analysts point to a phenomenon known as “price cycling,” in which prices in Florida and a handful of other states reset sharply higher on certain days before gradually declining — making the state particularly sensitive to oil market swings.

Despite the sharp rise, AAA says there is no gasoline shortage in the United States. The organization notes that U.S. supply remains stable and refineries are operating normally, with higher pump prices reflecting increased fuel costs rather than any disruption in domestic availability.

How long prices remain elevated will depend largely on the duration of the international conflict, when shipping normalizes through the Strait of Hormuz — a route through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil typically flows — and how global supply and demand respond.

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