The last month of the year began with gas prices in Florida shifting wildly.

“Florida gas prices are declining again after an abrupt increase last week. After setting a new 2023 low of $3.01 per gallon last Monday, the state average jumped to $3.17 by Thursday,” AAA noted on Monday.

“Florida gas prices seem to be moving down again almost as quickly as they shot up,” said Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA and the Auto Club Group. “There isn’t any clear explanation for last week’s sudden increase, as oil and gasoline futures logged their sixth consecutive weekly loss. Regardless, drivers in many cities are beginning to find gas prices close to the same levels where they were last week.

This week began with the average gallon of gas in Florida costing $3.15, up from $3.02 at the start of last week. The national average stood at $3.24 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.25 at the start of last week.

The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton had the most expensive gas in the state, with an average of $3.32 a gallon, followed by Naples and Homosassa Springs, which both saw an average of $3.20 a gallon.

Panama City had the least expensive gas in the state with an average of $2.93 a gallon, followed by the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach area at $2.94 a gallon and Pensacola at $2.98 a gallon.