Gas prices spiked by 18 cents in Southwest Florida early last week before finally plateauing over the weekend.
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice market was $2.51, 18 cents higher than the previous week, AAA reported Monday. Local prices are now 41 cents above what they were at this time last year. Statewide, prices at the pump averaged $2.53 per gallon, up 13 cents over the week. But the state average has held firm for the past three days. The most expensive gas in Florida on Monday was $2.64 in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area. Locally, gas prices range from $2.42 in Punta Gorda to $2.48 in Venice.
