COLUMBUS – The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus jumped 14 cents since last Monday, but is virtually unchanged from the price two weeks ago, when it was a high point for the year.
The nationwide average price increased 3 cents over that Period of time, according to a survey by industry analyst Trilby Lundberg who says drivers could see price increases slow as crude oil costs drop.
The average price of $2.43 a gallon in Columbus Monday morning was only a penny higher than the price on April 10 but is 27 cents higher than the price a month ago, according to a daily survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc.
The national average was slightly higher than the state average at $2.42, up a penny from a week ago. The national average was much lower a year ago at $2.13.
AAA says prices at the pump have been rising as the switch is made to more expensive summer-blend gasoline and driving demand increases.
Ohioans saw one of the nation’s most dramatic price increases last week because gasoline stockpiles in the Midwest/Great Lakes region dropped to the lowest inventory numbers for the region in nearly three months, according to AAA analysts.