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Gas prices continue to increase

A 14-cent increase in gas prices over just one week created concern for many Florida residents.

The average Florida price for regular gas is $3.57, which is slightly higher than the national level.

This rise in gas prices affected Gainesville residents like Bob Becker, who does a significant amount of driving for his job.

“It’s horrible,” he said. “Last week, I could fill up a tank for the same price that I’m getting three-quarters of a tank today.”

This fast increase is leading some people to believe it is going to get worse before it will get better.

“The way the economy is right now, I don’t think the gas prices are going to get any better,” local driver Drico Mosley said. “I think we’re stuck with it. It might get higher.”

AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said prices will most likely continue to increase.

“You can certainly expect to see gas prices continue to fluctuate,” Jenkins said. “They could go up another 3- to 5 cents here in the immediate future."

The spike in prices comes just as a new report finds the average household had to spend about 4 percent of its income on gas in 2012, the most in about three decades.

Rebekah Geier wrote this story online.

Carolyn is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.