COLUMBUS – Gas prices in central Ohio are following the law of supply and demand while defying the law of gravity.
What has gone up stubbornly refuses to come down.
The average retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus rose for the second week in a row, jumping 7 cents overnight to $2.49, 16 cents higher than on Jan. 22, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wex, Inc.
“Strong demand coupled with steadily rising oil prices means filling up will continue to cost consumers more this month. In fact, the last time the national gas price average was this high, but under $3/gallon in February was in 2010,” said the AAA’s Jeanette Casselano.
Late last week, the government announced that U.S. crude oil production topped 10 million barrels per day in November for the first time since November 1970.
Ohio’s statewide average price of $2.45 was a penny lower than last week and 16 cents cheaper than the national average, which.has increased for the sixth consecutive week. It is 18 cents more expensive since prices started the upward trend in late December and 3 cents more than last Monday, Casselano said.
Ohio and Missouri ($2.38) are boasting the lowest gas prices in the Great Lakes and central U.S. where 10 of 13 states are selling gas for $2.50 a gallon or more, Casselano said.