COLUMBUS – For the fourth week in a row, Columbus motorists are paying a little more to fill up their gas tanks, but prices at the pump are still the lowest in more than five years.
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in central Ohio was 2 cents higher Monday morning, at $2.07, than the previous week, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc. That price is 13 cents higher than a month ago but 39 cents lower than last year at the same time and the lowest since May 2009.
Prices climbed in March because of higher oil prices, seasonal refinery maintenance and the switch by wholesalers to more the expensive summer blend of fuel.
The national average price spent 19 consecutive days above $2 per gallon and auto club analysts predict pump prices are likely to fluctuate as the supply of summer-blend gasoline continues to make its way to terminals nationwide.
The U.S. Energy Information Agency reported an increase in domestic gasoline inventories and additional supply is also expected to enter the market.
The nationwide average price Monday morning was $2.11 a gallon, 8 cents higher than one week ago.