COLUMBUS – Analysts are warning us that the days of dropping summer gas prices appear to be behind us.
The average price of regular gasoline in Columbus was $2.28 a gallon Friday morning, according to a daily survey from the auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc. Although that was 10 cents cheaper than when the week began, it was the highest price since July 10.
The AAA says Ohio drivers saw the nation’s second-highest month-to-month price hike at the pump, 20 cents, on Monday.
Experts say low inventory and high demand will likely result in continued increases over the coming weeks.
“U.S. crude inventories are moving in the opposite direction of demand – a perfect storm for continued price increases heading into August,” AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano said.
Ohio and the other states in the Great Lakes region saw some of the nation’s highest price hikes this week as Midwest gasoline inventories dropped by 300,000 barrels.