COLUMBUS, Ohio – Motorists hoping to see the price of gas drop below the $3-a-gallon mark will be disappointed, according to the head of the nation’s largest auto club.
A survey from the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc., reports the average price of regular gasoline is $3.34 a gallon.
Today marks the 1,000th consecutive day, dating back to Dec. 22, 2010, that Ohio’s average gas price has been above $3.00 per gallon, the longest stretch of time on record that gas prices have been above that level, according to the AAA.
“Paying less than $3.00 per gallon for gasoline may be automotive history for most Americans. The reality is that expensive gas is here to stay,” said Bob Darbelnet AAA president and CEO.
Nationally, the average price of gasoline has been above $3.00 per gallon for 999 days and Darbelnet forecasts the national average will remain above $3.00 per gallon for at least another thousand days, barring a major economic recession.
The per-gallon price in Columbus is down from $3.49 one week ago and 53 cents below last year’s level. According to ColumbusGasPrices.com, pump prices ranged from $3.21 a gallon in Gahanna to $3.59 on the southwest side.
The statewide average of $3.39 was 13 cents cheaper than last Monday.