(The Center Square) – Ohio gas prices rose over the past week but remain significantly lower than a month ago and last year.
According to the Automobile Association of America, the average price of gas in the state is $3.05, nearly 7 cents below the national average. Several counties in the state are reporting prices below $3 a gallon.
Last week, Ohio averaged $2.87 a gallon but a month ago motorists in the state were paying $3.16. The average price a year ago was $3.13.
The national average dipped by 2 cents last week as states recovered from interruptions caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“After the brief interruption caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, gas prices have resumed their gradual season decline,” said Andrew Gross of AAA. “We are only about 7 cents away from the national average’s 2024 low, and it will likely keep rolling and fall below $3 soon.”
A string of a dozen western Ohio counties running from the Michigan border to the Cincinnati area, all posting average prices between $2.70 and $2.93 a gallon. A small pocket of three counties in south-central Ohio also has the same average.
The highest prices are in central Ohio, including Franklin, Delaware and Licking counties, where gas costs between $3.10 and $3.16.
The Springfield-metro area has the highest metro prices at $3.11 a gallon. The Youngstown-Warren-metro area has the lowest at $2.98.
Ohio’s highest recorded average price was a statewide average of $5.07 in 2022.
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are Hawaii ($4.59), California ($4.56), Washington ($4.03), Nevada ($3.80), Oregon ($3.62), Alaska ($3.59), Utah ($3.34), Idaho ($3.34), Pennsylvania ($3.32) and Illinois ($3.31).
The least expensive markets are Texas ($2.68), Mississippi ($2.69), Oklahoma ($2.70), Tennessee ($2.74), Louisiana ($2.77), Missouri ($2.77), Arkansas ($2.78), Kansas ($2.78), Kentucky ($2.78), and Alabama ($2.80).
