Gas prices in South Central Ohio are down by 13 cents over the week to $2.680 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

On the week, gas prices are dropping – and for some by a lot – across the Great Lakes and Central states. Seven states in the region land on the top 10 largest weekly change in gas prices list, including Ohio (-13 cents). Despite cheaper gas prices on the week, state gas price averages are nearly 50-cents or more expensive than a year ago (Ohio, +48 cents).

On the week, gasoline inventories in the region took a draw of 870,000 barrels and now face a 2.3 million barrel deficit, the only region in the country to have one according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. As regional gasoline inventories tighten, gas prices could see jumps.

Today’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average $2.680

Average price during the week of July 16, 2018 $2.809

Average price during the week of July 24, 2017 $2.213

Here is the price per gallon of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:

$2.798 Athens

$2.583 Chillicothe

$2.579 Columbiana

$2.647 East Liverpool

$2.787 Gallipolis

$2.671 Hillsboro

$2.689 Ironton

$2.717 Jackson

$2.669 Logan

$2.651 Marietta

$2.698 Portsmouth

$2.611 Steubenville

$2.705 Washington Court House

$2.714 Waverly

On the National Front

Volatility is the trend for July gas prices as the rate for crude oil rises and drops amid lingering geopolitical concerns. In the U.S., the first half of the month saw pump prices increase from $2.85 to $2.89, while the second half is proving cheaper with the national gas price average down to $2.84 today. The national average has not been this low since early May. If demand and supply stay consistent, prices have the potential to stabilize barring any major events – such as geopolitical or natural occurrences.

Today’s national gas price average is four cents cheaper than last week, two cents cheaper than last month, but 57-cents more expensive than a year ago. On the week, Hawaii (+1 cent) was the only state to see gas prices increase, Montana ($2.93) was the only state whose gas price average held steady, while all other states saw prices drop as much as 13 cents.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased $1.00 to settle at $70.46. Oil prices trended higher at the end of last week following news from EIA on record-breaking crude production in the U.S. At 11 million b/d, total crude production in the U.S. hit its highest rate ever recorded since the EIA began reporting its data. Moving into this week, analyst are continuing to keep an eye on the global supply restraints due to U.S.-imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports and ongoing economic troubles in Venezuela, which could send crude production prices higher.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 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.