Gas prices in South Central Ohio dropped by seven cents over the week to $2.639 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Six Great Lakes and Central states top the largest weekly decrease list, including Ohio (-9 cents). Gas prices are 3 to 14 cents cheaper than last Monday across the region. With the pump price drops, all state gas price averages are now under $3/gallon.
Not only are motorists in Ohio seeing large declines in the last seven days, but gas prices are 30-cents less compared to last month. With that, Ohio leads the country with the biggest month-over-month decrease.
Inventories built slightly (81,000 barrels) and now sit at 52.6 million over the week. This is the third highest inventory level of all regions in the country, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.
Today’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $2.639
Average price during the week of June 18, 2018: $2.712
Average price during the week of June 26, 2017: $2.168
Here is the price per gallon of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$2.713 Athens
$2.533 Chillicothe
$2.563 Columbiana
$2.702 East Liverpool
$2.757 Gallipolis
$2.679 Hillsboro
$2.623 Ironton
$2.661 Jackson
$2.553 Logan
$2.735 Marietta
$2.666 Portsmouth
$2.501 Steubenville
$2.609 Washington Court House
$2.644 Waverly
On the National Front
At $2.85, the national gas price average is five cents cheaper than a week ago, 12-cents less than a month ago, but 58-cents more than a year ago. Gas prices have consistently been declining since Memorial Day. On the week, 49 states saw pump prices drop with and motorists in Indiana and Michigan saw double-digit declines.
Gas prices may be poised to drop even more following OPEC’s announcement that the cartel will increase production by 1 million b/d in the second half of 2018. However, that number may be revised closer to 600,000 b/d, as there is speculation that some producers will not be able to meet the quota increase. Regardless, the production increase could decrease crude prices and in turn drive down gas prices later this year. These changes would likely hit the pump in the U.S. sometime around late summer or early fall.
The cartel made the production decision after the U.S., China and India voiced support for an increase to prevent an oil deficit that could stifle economic growth in the latter half of 2018. The production increase will occur ahead of this December’s expected dissolution of OPEC's production reduction agreement, which has worked to reduce global oil supplies and increase the global price of crude since the beginning of 2017.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. 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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