The average price for gasoline across Northeast Ohio is 12 cents cheaper this week at $2.605 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Gas prices trended cheaper this week as refinery utilization increased to 87.6% and gasoline stocks drew by about 500,000 barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest weekly reports. Total stocks continue to trend above the 50-million-barrel level, which is about a 5 million deficit year-over-year. However, should utilization continue to increase above the 90% mark, stocks could build to a stronger level that would allow gas prices to stabilize even more. Typically, ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the region has recorded stock levels around 52 million bbl.
This week’s average prices: Northeast Ohio Average $2.605
Average price during the week of May 6, 2019 $2.720
Average price during the week of May 14, 2018 $2.824
Average prices of the unleaded self-service gasoline in various areas:
$2.524 Alliance
$2.673 Ashland
$2.532 Ashtabula
$2.569 Aurora
$2.660 Chesterland
$2.644 Cleveland
$2.612 Elyria
$2.645 Independence
$2.597 Lorain
$2.640 Lyndhurst
$2.547 Massillon
$2.591 Mentor
$2.515 New Philadelphia
$2.536 Niles
$2.646 Norwalk
$2.716 Oberlin
$2.598 Parma
$2.627 Ravenna
$2.538 Solon
$2.685 Willard
$2.607 Youngstown
On the National Front
Gas prices are slowly but steadily declining across the country, pushing the national average down three cents on the week to $2.86. Today’s average is four cents cheaper than last month and the same price as one year ago. In fact, 25 states have gas price averages that are just a nickel or less expensive than this time last year.
Gas prices are decreasing despite the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest reports which show an increase in demand to summer-like levels and a decrease in gasoline stocks. The move to cheaper gas prices indicates that demand and supply are potentially leveling out. Though prices have been declining, there are factors that could quickly push up prices in the coming weeks, including the impact of Chinese tariffs, weather, a major draw in gasoline stock levels, a spike in demand or the volume of Memorial Day weekend travel. Pump price movements this week will indicate if motorists will continue to see cheaper gas prices or if this was just a one-week fad.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate decreased four cents to settle at $61.66. On the week, crude prices have moved lower because of global concerns around trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. This, plus reports that two Saudi oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz are likely to keep prices volatile this week.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.