Florida gas prices remained mostly fixed over the past week, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida sits at $2.83, a penny less than the previous week. While the state average price of gasoline remains 8 cents less than the highest prices this year ($2.91), the new price at the pump is 5 cents more than what drivers in the state paid this time two years ago. In 2020, gas prices averaged $1.82 per gallon because the COVID-19 pandemic severely deteriorated driving demand.

The steady price comes as the price of U.S. crude oil bounced back up to $63 per barrel this week, after trading at around $59/b the week before.

“Gas prices have held relatively steady through the first half of April,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, some upward pressure appears to be moving back into the market, which could affect prices at the pump. Oil prices jumped 6 percent last week, in hopes that demand will continue to grow due to increased COVID-19 vaccinations, lower jobless claims in the U.S. and rising consumer sentiment.”

Motorists looking to travel in the Sunshine State will find the highest price per gallon in the Panhandle and across much of South Florida. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($2.96), Tallahassee ($2.90), and Panama City ($2.90) posted the highest gas prices. The lowest prices were reported in Punta Gorda ($2.75), Jacksonville ($2.76), and Orlando ($2.77).

Although U.S. gasoline demand has shown significant improvement compared to last year, it remains below pre-pandemic levels. The latest demand figures from the Energy Information Association (EIA) show a 76 percent improvement from this time last year. However, current demand numbers are 5 percent below this same time in 2019.

AAA surveys up to 130,000 gas stations daily, reporting prices for regular and unleaded gasoline.

To view a full breakdown of gas prices in Florida, click here.