COLUMBUS – While the average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped a nickel nationally, it went up about 15 cents in Columbus during the past three weeks, according to industry data.
The nationwide average price on Friday was $2.31, according to industry analyst Trilby Lundberg, who says her survey of gas stations showed a 5-cent drop in price despite a slight rise in crude oil prices.
The decline was attributed mostly to lower demand in January. Estimates show that the demand in January was the lowest for the first month of the year since January 2012.
The average price in Columbus rose 15 cents during the same three-week period to $2.17 a gallon, which is still 10 cents below the national average, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
The price of gasoline in Ohio was the third-lowest in the nation one week ago.
Monday morning, the statewide average price was $2.12 a gallon, 5 cents higher than a week ago.