Overview
- AAA data showed Florida’s average for regular gasoline rose from $3.89 to $4.07 in a single overnight move on Wednesday, with Jacksonville climbing roughly 21 cents to about $4.10.
- The national average has climbed to about $4.19 per gallon even as state and local prices diverge because of differences in taxes, fuel blends and distribution.
- AAA and local reporters point to higher crude oil trading near $90–$100 a barrel and limited refinery capacity as the main upstream drivers of the recent pump-price jump.
- Drivers and small businesses report immediate pain from the rise, saying they are cutting trips, using alternate transport and absorbing higher costs that shrink take‑home pay.
- AAA recommends simple near-term steps to save fuel such as slowing down, avoiding hard acceleration, keeping tires inflated, combining errands and staying on routine vehicle maintenance while markets and refinery output are watched for further changes.