Drivers across the Suncoast woke up to a higher number at the pump Wednesday. The average price for regular gas in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area climbed more than 12 cents overnight to $4.22 a gallon, according to AAA, up from $4.09 on Tuesday. That’s about 37 cents higher than a month ago and more than a dollar-seven above this time last year, with the local average running just above Florida’s statewide mark of $4.20.
The overnight spike traces back to rising tensions in the Middle East and the pressure that puts on crude oil markets. Around the region, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is averaging $4.23 and Fort Myers-Cape Coral $4.26, so the Suncoast is in familiar territory even if it doesn’t feel like it at the register.
The bigger long-term concern is diesel, which hit a record $6.38 a gallon for our market, up nearly 55 cents in a week. Diesel powers delivery trucks, work vans, and boat haulers, so those costs tend to work their way into grocery bills and service prices over the following weeks. In the meantime, the usual habits help: compare stations along your regular route, combine errands into one loop, keep your tires properly inflated, and avoid long idles in the September heat.
Where are you finding the best gas prices in Manatee or Sarasota County right now? Let us know in the comments.
