Gasoline prices flat as demand drops due to winter storms
Snow storms have reduced demand for gasoline across much of the nation, giving motorists a respite from rising gasoline prices.
“If there’s ever a time one could expect gasoline prices to flatline, this week should be one of them,” said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.
Monday, Palm Beach County’s average for regular stood at $2.51, up a penny from a week ago, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report.
Fl0rida’s average remained unchanged from a week ago at $2.40 a gallon.
A number of local stations had gasoline priced well below average Monday, as reported on GasBuddy.com, including:
RaceTrac, $2.24, 3032 S. Congress Ave. and Lake Worth Road, suburban Lake Worth
Speedway, $2.24, 3965 S. Congress Ave. and Lake Worth Road, suburban Lake Worth
Costco, $2.24, 1873 W. Lantana Road, Lantana
7-Eleven, $2.27, 1733 S. Congress Ave. and Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach
BJ’s Wholesale Club, $2.30, 1540 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach
Last week the U.S. Department of Energy released a report showing a huge buildup in gasoline inventory. That coupled with winter storms that brought snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice storms to various parts of the country from California to the Deep South resulted in immediate and downward pressure on fuel prices, Laskoski said.