Gas prices in the area are among the cheapest in Florida, according to AAA’s daily fuel tracker. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded has dropped in 36 of the past 37 days. In Manatee and Sarasota Counties, the average price for a gallon of gas sits at $2.08 per gallon. The state average was $2.14, well below the national average of $2.26. Locally, prices range from around $1.98 in Venice to as high as $2.19 in Punta Gorda.
