BY MALENA CAROLLO

It looks as if Florida has dodged $3-per-gallon gas for now.

Gas averaged $2.86 per gallon Monday, down about four cents over the week. Despite the reprieve, that's nearly 50 cents more than this time last year.

Tampa Bay averaged slightly less at $2.82 per gallon Monday, down seven cents over the week but up 46 cents from this time in 2017. Nationally, gas averaged $2.95 per gallon Monday, about 58 cents more than it was a year ago. The current price drop, AAA, The Auto Club Group, said, could go even further.

"Gas prices could drop 10 to 15 cents, based on recent oil price declines," said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA, in a release. "The discount will not happen overnight, because it usually takes a couple weeks for shifts like this to play out at the pump. However, any downward potential would be wiped out if futures prices suddenly bounce higher."

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Contact this reporter at mcarollo@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2249. Follow @malenacarollo.