COLUMBUS – Gas prices in central Ohio took a dramatic leap overnight and analysts are blaming a devastating wildfire in Canada’s Oil Sands region.
The average retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Columbus Wednesday morning was $2.33, a jump of 9 cents overnight and 22 cents more than the price one week ago, according to a daily survey by the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
The recent decline in Canadian production has impacted the regional cost of oil and is likely contributing to more expensive gas prices in the Midwest.
The statewide average price was up 7 cents since Tuesday at $2.30 a gallon.
Volatility has characterized pump prices in the Midwest, where drivers in Ohio and other states have seen large gains over the past seven days due to more expensive crude oil costs brought about by wildfires in Canada and supply disruptions in other oil-producing countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Nigeria and Venezuela, according to the auto club’s analysts.