Gas prices go up 20 cents overnight in SWFL

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LEE COUNTY, Fla.- WINK News is tracking the rising price at the pump for you. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $2.43, while Southwest Florida’s average is ten cents more.

AAA says the rise in gas prices is because oil has gone up $5 a barrel since Monday, rising tensions in the Middle East and because of spring break.

“I’ve been driving around town today and the average price is 2.55/2.56 per gallon,” said Rick Leblanc.

Overnight, gas prices in Southwest Florida are up and drivers are noticing.

“It’s gone up unbelievable and I think it’s hurting tourism, it’s hurting the general public,” said John Zukaitis.

This is video WINK News shot from different gas stations in Lee County, $2.49 was the cheapest we saw, but the average is $2.55 per gallon.

“I don’t think they will go down again. I think the rip off artists are at their peak right now,” said Zukaitis.

A Canadian visitor we spoke to says, the gas price hike here isn’t that bad compared to how much gas goes up in Canada.

“I’ve been driving a lot, I came from Canada, so you know how much I spent in gas getting here. It wasn’t that bad compared to what we’ve been seeing the last while, so I’m okay with it,” Rick Leblanc told WINK News.

Another driver we spoke to says he has three vehicles and two of them are parked, collecting dust.

“At this point, I am not taking any trips, I’m not doing anything as far as the motor home, it’s sitting and decaying, I’m using the cheaper car to move around in, the truck is sitting also.”

But tonight, drivers wallets are a lot lighter after they fuel up.

“Usually about 70 o 80 bucks to fill it, back home, $110,” said Leblanc.

AAA does not expect the spike to last long.

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