(The Center Square) – Ohio average gas prices jumped a dime overnight and spiked 31 cents in the past week due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, according to the Automobile Association of America.
AAA Public and Global Affairs Manager Morgan Dean told The Center Square that the longer the conflict continues, the higher the price jump drivers could see.
“U.S. drivers are seeing big jumps in gas prices from day to day, due to the conflict in the Middle East,” Dean said. “The longer this conflict continues, the more impact and the longer the impact we’re likely to see on gas prices.”
Ohio’s jump from Tuesday put the average price at $3.09 a gallon. Nationally, the average price stands at $3.19, 9 cents higher than Tuesday and 22 cents higher than a week ago.
A significant jump, according to Dean.
“The last time we saw similar overnight jumps in the national gas average was the beginning of the Russian/Ukraine conflict in early March 2022, when the national average jumped 11 cents from $4.06 to $4.17 from March 7 to March 8,” Dean said.
Counties in western Ohio have the lowest average prices, ranging from $2.68 to a little more than $3 a gallon.
Areas around Columbus, along with a handful of counties in eastern and northern Ohio, are seeing the highest averages, ranging from $3.14 to $3.19.
The conflict in Iran also comes at a time of year when gas prices tend to move upward due to seasonal impacts, according to Dean.
Producers normally change from winter to summer gas in March and April, which usually increases prices by 10 to 15 cents a gallon.
Dean also said the summer travel season, spring break and college and public school holidays could have an impact.
“That means more people on the road and higher demand at the pumps, that can push up prices too,” Dean said.
