COLUMBUS – For the first time in 11 weeks, the average price of gasoline in the U.S. dropped from one week to the next and drivers in Columbus are enjoying some of the nation’s cheapest fuel.
According to oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg’s biweekly survey, the average price of regular gasoline fell to $2.25 a gallon, partly of the reason is seasonally lower gasoline demand.
The average price in Columbus Monday morning was $2, a 15-cent drop from the week before, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc., the first time since August 15 that the price per gallon fell below $2.01 to begin the week.
Even though the the average price in central Ohio was 18 cents cheaper than a year ago price and the nationwide average price at the pump has fallen for 15 of the last 16 days, according to the AAA, analyst Patrick DeHaan at GasBuddy.com says the national average was higher than the year-ago price for the first time in 2 years and 3 months.
Prices in the Great Lakes region are heading downward because big refineries in Indiana and Illinois completed maintenance, auto club analysts say.