COLUMBUS, Ohio – Central Ohio motorists are paying more for gas after pump prices jumped prior to the long holiday weekend.
A gallon of regular gas was averaging $3.55 a gallon in Tuesday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc., the highest average price of any of Ohio’s major metropolitan areas. That is 20 cents higher than the average price on Friday and 14 cents higher than the price one week ago.
The statewide average price of $3.51 was up about a dime from a week ago, and is a few cents more than last month at this time.
The local and statewide averages are both higher than the national average, which was $3.43 on Tuesday. That’s about the same as a week ago.
Analysts expect prices to stay lower if refinery production remains strong and unexpected problems don’t increase oil prices.