COLUMBUS – The price of gas has gone up in Columbus and the rest of the nation despite a big drop in crude oil prices.
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus Monday morning was $2.13, a nickel more than a week ago, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
At $2.22 a gallon, the national average price inched up about a penny as refiners and retailers kept their profit margins from oil price cuts to recover from previous losses, according to industry analyst Trilby Lundberg.
She says the combination of lower oil prices and reduced demand during the autumn months mean the price hike will be short-lived and drivers can expect to see price declines in a matter of days.
Ohio’s statewide average price of $2.10 a gallon was also 5 cents higher than a week ago but 20 cents cheaper than a month ago and 13 cents lower than the price at the same time last year.