COLUMBUS, Ohio – As Columbus motorists watch an upward trend in gas prices continue, a leading oil industry analyst says pump prices could climb as much as a dime in the near future, unless oil prices show significant declines.
Trilby Lundberg’s survey shows the average price of a regular gallon of gas jumped 13 cents in the past two weeks to $2.20, ending a sustained drop.
The price at the pump in Columbus soared 39 cents during the same period, from $1.86 to $2.25, due to issues at Midwestern refineries, according to Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc.
The price in central Ohio was 5 cents higher than the rest of the state and 7 cents higher than the national average price of $2.18 per gallon. The national average price is about 12 cents higher than a week ago, according to the AAA. The national average last year at this time was $3.28 per gallon.
Analysts a say a rebound in the price of crude oil caused the increased prices at the pump.