COLUMBUS – Gas prices in Ohio have surged 21 cents in the past two weeks, one of the largest price jumps in the nation, as refineries begin to slow down production ahead of the seasonal switch to summer-blend fuel.
The average retail price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus Monday morning was $2.25, 12 cents higher than a week earlier, according to a daily survey by the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
That comes on the heels of a 9-cent hike the week before.
Pump prices will likely remain volatile in the coming weeks as refiners begin to make the switch from winter-blend to summer-blend gasoline, according to the auto club’s analysts.
Ohio’s statewide average price was $2.23, which was 10 cents higher than the week before and is considerably higher than the $1.90 motorists were paying one year ago.
The national average price of $2.31 was 2 cents higher than last Monday.
AAA says gas prices mostly held steady during February but are expected to increase this month as demand rises and refiners start switching to more expensive summer gasoline.