Gas Prices Increase In Ohio Again

CLEVELAND, OH - Gas prices in Ohio continue to climb higher, according to travel organization AAA. The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel has gone up 6 cents over the past seven days to $2.36, AAA says.

Northeast Ohio has seen gas prices climbing steadily now for a month, bringing the region closer to the national average of $2.39 for a gallon of regular. Trends suggest Northeast Ohioans may soon be paying more than the national average, though.

Last week, the cost for a gallon of regular gas was $2.30, a month ago a gallon cost $2.15, and a year ago Northeast Ohioans were paying $2.02 at the pump. Despite the steady and occasionally dramatic price increases, Ohio is still lagging behind its peers in the Great Lakes region when it comes to prices for a gallon of regular.

Michigan is now paying $2.57 on average for a gallon of regular, high enough to put the Wolverine state in the nation's 10 most expensive places to buy gas. Neighboring Pennsylvania is paying $2.59 per gallon of regular. Illinois jumped 9 cents on average and now residents are paying $2.51 per gallon of regular.

AAA says the Great Lakes and Central States saw some of the most dramatic increases in costs for gasoline over the past week, rocketing some states into the top 10 most expensive states to buy gas in.

"Phillips 66’s 330,000-b/d Wood River refinery in Illinois is still undergoing planned maintenance work, adding to a growing list of refinery issues in the U.S. Midwest. In addition, BP’s 430,000-b/d Whiting, IN, refinery was experiencing a minor issue on its second-largest crude distillation unit, which was affecting normal operations, but should be remedied in a few days," AAA says on its website.

Ultimately, 48 states and Washington D.C. all saw prices increase at the pump, so the trend toward more expensive gas is truly national. As more companies move to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive, prices may continue to climb.

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