COLUMBUS – The recent climb in gas prices appears to have slowed down but drivers should not expect to see a reversal anytime soon.
A price drop during the second half of February was halted by a rise in crude oil costs and pump prices rebounded with double-digit increases in some markets, thanks to the arrival of Daylight Saving Time and the end of winter.
“Typically, March brings more expensive pricing as days get longer, weather gets warmer and refineries gear up to switch over to pricier summer blends,” said Jeanette Casselano, spokeswoman for the auto club AAA.
The average retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus has jumped 19 cents in the last two weeks to $2.48 Monday morning, according to a daily survey from the auto club, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
Ohioans suffered the nation’s largest weekly increase last week as they saw the price at the pump go up by 9 cents a gallon. That was followed by a 3-cent increase this week. The price is 29 cents higher than at this time last year.
The national average price has remained virtually unchanged over the past two weeks but is 23 cents higher than the price on March 12, 2017.