COLUMBUS – The price of gasoline has climbed along with the temperatures.
Prices at the pump have increased in the last month, largely due to seasonal increases in fuel demand and reduced production as some refineries conduct maintenance.
The average retail price of regular gasoline in Columbus was $1.94 a gallon Monday morning, 13 cents higher than it was on Feb. 28, according to a daily survey from the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
Nationwide, the auto club says prices are the highest since January, not unusual since prices tend to increase in the spring as the weather turns warmer and days grow longer, according to analysts. People drive more this time of year, which means they may use more gasoline than normal.
The increase in demand comes at the same time that many refineries conduct maintenance to prepare equipment for the busy summer driving season, which leads to a temporary decline in fuel production. In addition, refineries also begin to transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce, but mandated due to the fact that it is causes less air pollution at warmer temperatures.