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South Central Ohio Gas Prices Drop Shines Light on Regional Volatility

Ohio, Gas Prices
Route 66 gas station by Marcin Wichary
Photo by Marcin Wichary https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Gas prices in South Central Ohio plunged by nine cents this week to average at $2.253 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  Six Great Lakes and Central states saw the country’s largest decrease in gas prices on the week, including Ohio (-9 cents).  

As prices at the pump drop, so does the region’s gasoline inventory.  According to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report, the region drew one million barrels of gasoline on the week, the largest of any region in the country.  Typically, gas prices increase with growing demand; however, the region often sees high volatility, which impacts gas price trends week by week.


This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $2.253
Average price during the week of August 14, 2017: $2.345
Average price during the week of August 22, 2016: $2.158

Here is the price per gallon of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:

$2.397       Athens
$2.109       Chillicothe
$2.200       Columbiana
$2.239       East Liverpool
$2.351       Gallipolis
$2.250       Hillsboro
$2.229       Ironton
$2.348       Jackson
$2.188       Logan
$2.379       Marietta
$2.305       Portsmouth
$2.173       Steubenville
$2.097       Washington Court House
$2.276       Waverly

On the National Front
At $2.33, the national gas price average is two cents cheaper than a week ago.  Consumers in most Midwest, East Coast and Southern states are paying, on average, two cents less on the week, while most West Coast and Rockies states are seeing pump prices increase on average by three cents.  Today’s national average is five cents more than a month ago and 17 cents more expensive than a year ago.

At the end of last week, the price per barrel of West Texas Intermediate stayed below $50 – settling at $48.51.  On Monday morning, prices appeared to be falling due to a weak dollar and continued worries about high crude oil inventory levels.

As gas prices continue to fluctuate across the country, growth in gasoline production combined with record-breaking high refinery runs continues to drive the country’s already relatively high gasoline inventories even higher.  The EIA reports that despite growing domestic and foreign demand, today’s national gasoline inventory levels sit at 231 million bbl and remain higher than the previous five-year average.

As a result, market observers will look toward this week’s EIA report to see if the trend continues, noting that gasoline demand along the path of today’s solar eclipse may help boost numbers.  Drivers in the viewing pathway may see prices spike due to high demand.

Drivers can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at
AAA.com/mobile.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 81 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  Past news releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For More Information, Contact:
Jim Garrity, Public & Community Relations Manager
Desk: 412-365-7274 / Cell: 412-905-9021 / Email: Garrity.James@aaaec.com

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AAA East Central is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.