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Gas Prices in the Tampa Bay area hit the highest level since 2015

Posted at 7:11 PM, Apr 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-24 19:16:21-04

In March the average for gas was $2.13, then $2.21, and today $2.45. But the good news is the trend is about to go back down.

"It's going up and down like a yo-yo," exclaimed Connie who is an Uber driver and would only tell us her first name.

Florida’s gas prices are now at the highest level since 2015, and drivers are starting to take notice.

"I'm watching it," said Darrel Fulton who owns a big pick-up truck. "Two weeks ago I filled up for $41 dollars. And filled up the other day it was $50," 

Connie,the Uber driver, is already changing her route by parking at the airport instead of roaming for customers.

"So at the airport you sit and wait for your call to come in and it can take 20 to 45 minutes hoping you get something that's long enough so the vehicle is longer on the highway," she says.

"Right now we are looking at an average of $2.45 which is about 19 cents higher than last week," said Mark Jenkins with AAA.

But the good news is while the trend has been going up it's about to go back down.

"Right now I'd say we are on a downward trend because refineries have completed their maintenance season and inventories are picking back up," he said.

And take solace in this fact that three years ago we were paying an average of $3.79 per gallon. Experts told our anchor Paul LaGrone they see nothing to indicate prices will rise back to that level.