COLUMBUS, Ohio – Some analysts are predicting gas prices could change by as much as 20 cents a gallon in the next few days, but the average price in central Ohio was higher to start the week.
The daily survey by the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc., showed the average price of regular was $3.29 a gallon, 11 cents higher than last Monday.
But, ColumbusGasPrices.com indicated a wide difference in prices, which ranged from $3.09 on the Southwest Side to $3.49 elsewhere.
Oil industry analysts say the volatility of prices could send them lower or higher by as much as 20 cents per gallon by the middle of the week.
According to the AAA, Americans are paying the cheapest gas prices of the year following a 12 cent per gallon decline in October and public relations manager Michael Green says as many as 10 states or more could see local averages drop below $3.00 per gallon.
The lack of a major hurricane this year has helped refineries run relatively smoothly and maintain ample production. Many refineries also have increased capacity to take advantage of growing North American crude oil production to make more gasoline, Green said.
Green says much of the country switched to using less expensive winter-bend gasoline in September and October. The winter-blend gasoline can cost as much as 10 to 15 cents per gallon less to produce than the equivalent summer fuel because it is not required to meet stricter air regulations, Green said.