The average price of gasoline across South Central Ohio is seven cents higher this week at $3.670 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $3.670; Washington Court House Average: $3.664

Average price during the week of August 29, 2022 $3.607

Average price during the week of September 7, 2021 $3.050

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:

$3.683 Athens

$3.625 Chillicothe

$3.533 Columbiana

$3.597 East Liverpool

$3.676 Gallipolis

$3.635 Hillsboro

$3.891 Ironton

$3.665 Jackson

$3.562 Logan

$4.009 Marietta

$3.551 Portsmouth

$3.609 Steubenville

$3.686 Waverly

Trend Analysis:

Lower oil prices, modest domestic gasoline demand, and a so-far quiet hurricane season are combining to drive pump prices lower. According to weather analysts, it’s the first time in 25 years that a named Atlantic storm did not develop in August. The national average for a gallon of gas fell seven cents in the past week to $3.77. Today’s national average is 31 cents less than a month ago but 59 cents more than a year ago.

Meanwhile, oil prices dipped on recent decreased Chinese manufacturing output due to lower demand for goods and new COVID‑19 outbreaks in critical industrial cities. This is fueling fears that oil demand could drop in China, the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Additionally, prices declined most of last week amid market concerns that crude demand will fall if economic growth slows or stalls due to a recession. EIA’s latest weekly report showed that total commercial crude inventories decreased by 3.4 million barrels to 418.3 million barrels.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), domestic gas demand increased slightly from 8.43 million barrels per day to 8.59 million barrels per day last week. However, the rate is nearly 1 million barrels per day lower than the last week of August 2021. Also, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.1 million barrels to 214.5 million barrels.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 71 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.