COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gas prices in central Ohio are down to start the work week, bucking a national trend.
The cost for a gallon of regular gas in Columbus was averaging $3.63 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s down about 16 cents from a week ago and 12 cents from 2 two weeks ago.
Monday’s Ohio price is about 2 cents higher than a month ago, and about 4 cents lower than last year at this time.
A survey by industry analyst Trilby Lundberg says the nationwide average rose 3 cents, to $3.72, during the past two weeks, marking the 12th straight week of price hikes at the pump.
Lundberg says gas prices are about to tumble, however, as crude oil and wholesale gasoline prices have started falling due to higher-than-expected crude output in Libya and ample U.S. crude oil stocks and ramped up production of gasoline.
According to the AAA survey, the national average Monday was $3.67 per gallon. That’s down 3 cents from last week, but it’s a dime higher than a month ago.