COLUMBUS, Ohio – After dipping below the $3 mark at many stations just before the holidays, Ohio gas prices have shot back up to end 2013 due to supply problems and the increased demand of holiday travel.
The average retail price in Columbus Monday morning was $3.42 a gallon in the survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s up 16 cents from last week and 33 cents higher than on Dec. 16.
The statewide average was $3.40, up 14 cents from last week. The national average was $3.31, up 6 cents from last week.
Prices in Ohio and the rest of the Midwest jumped during the week before Christmas due to a number of refinery issues, AAA public relations manager Michael Green said. At the same time, nearly 86 million people traveled by car during the holiday period.
The average price in Columbus is 9 cents higher than this time last year.
ColumbusGasPrices.com reports prices around the area range from $3.24 in Westerville to $3.49 in Upper Arlington.