Gas Prices Still Climbing In Ohio, Across U.S.

OHIO — Gas prices went up again in Ohio last week and some experts believe prices could continue to climb for the foreseeable future.

“More drivers fueling up here coupled with a persistent tight supply of oil worldwide provides the recipe for higher prices at the pump,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And unfortunately for consumers, it does not appear that this trend will change anytime soon.”

Gas prices climbed slightly in Ohio between Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, AAA said. The average price of a gallon of gas was $3.27 on Feb. 7 and rose to $3.36 on Feb. 14. While prices are moving up, Ohio's gas is still cheaper than the national average of $3.48 per gallon.

AAA believes the main causes of gas price increases are the high cost of crude oil, winter weather and higher demand. While spring is hopefully around the corner, the fading omicron variant-surge could spur more demand for gas.

A year ago, the average gallon of gas cost Ohioans $2.48. The escalation of gas prices mirrors a larger national trend of inflation. Succinctly, the price of nearly all goods has gone up markedly in the past year.

The consumer price index rose 7.5 percent year-over-year in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Across the Midwest, which includes Ohio, prices climbed even faster — up 7.9 percent in 12 months.

To the surprise of almost no one, the biggest price increases came from the food and energy sectors. Midwest residents are now paying 8 percent more for food than they did in 2021, and energy prices are up 25 percent compared to last year. The cost of gas is one of the primary movers for inflation, the report said.