Cheapest Gas Report: July 18

The search is on for the cheapest gas you can find and today’s best bet in Brandon might be these top three lowest prices found at GasBuddy.com on July 18 at 8:50 p.m.

The site, updated daily with visitor reports, at this reporting for regular gasoline lists 22 stations for Brandon, with prices ranging from $3.52 to $3.70 per gallon.

For premium gas, prices ranged from $3.72 to $3.99 per gallon, based on reported visitor updates for 13 stations. (The second-to-highest prices in each category were 3.53 and 3.73, respectively.)

For midgrade fuel, prices ranged from $3.63 to $3.80, with reports from 11 stations. (The second-to-highest price was $3.71.)

For diesel fuel, prices ranged from $3.82 to $3.91, with reports on eight stations.

In the 17 prior “Cheapest Gas” postings  filed by Brandon Patch, the lowest price for regular gas was reported June 26 ($3.40). The highest price for regular gas reported to date: $3,79, on May 10.

Prices across the states, as of July 18, ranged from 3.336 in Arizona (where prices held steady) to 4.061 in Hawaii (where prices were up). Connecticut was next highest at 4.004, followed by Alaska (3.965), Illinois (3.912) and New York (3.910).

Florida placed 23rd on the list from lowest- to-highest priced gasoline. Florida was at 3.664 (up from 3.585 on July 9 and down from 3.909 on May 10). 

Nationwide, prices held steady in 14 states, dropped in 14 states and rose in the others, including Florida.

Tampa prices were dropping (3.601, up from 3.524 on July 9 and down from 3.782 on May 20) while the Florida state average was rising (3.664, up from 3.585 on July 9 and down from 3.824 on May 20). Nationwide, the average was reported at 3.674, up from 3.621 on July 9 and down from 3.867 on May 20).

According to a map credited to the  American Petroleum Institute, gasoline taxes as of January 2011 in 16 states ranked in the highest category, "greater than 48.1." The chart looks at the combined local, state and federal taxes in cents per gallon. Florida was in that highest category (52.8). Ranking at the top and bottom of the list in that category were California (66.1) and Oregon (49.4).

For regular gas locally, the cheapest price reported was:

• $3.52 at Sunoco, 405 East Brandon Blvd. and Lithia-Pinecrest Road
• $3.52 at Costco, 10921 Causeway Blvd. and Interstate 75
• $3.53 at Sam's Club, 2021 West Brandon Blvd. (near Providence Road)

For regular gas locally, the highest prices were:

• $3.70 at BP, 1302 North Parsons Ave. and Windhorst Road (10-cents cheaper with car wash purchase)
• $3.66 at Sunoco, 1301 Parsons Ave. and West Windhorst Road (Price is for cash or Sunoco credit card)
• $3.65 at Marathon, 503 North Parsons Ave. and East Clay Avenue (price is for cash or Marathon credit card)