Gas prices in South Central Ohio are six cents more expensive this week at $2.214 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Most motorists in the Great Lakes and Central states are paying more to fill up at the pump on the week. Ohio (+6 cents) is listed as one of the country’s top 10 states with the largest weekly increases, with a statewide average of $2.18. Winter weather is one reason for the region’s fluctuating gas prices, as frigid weather has caused unplanned maintenance at a handful of refineries.

These disruptions negatively impacted utilization rate and limited supply growth. On the week, stocks built by only 350,000 barrels, per the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data published. However, at 61.8 million barrels, regional gasoline stocks sit at their highest level in a year.

This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $2.214

Average price during the week of February 4, 2019 $2.151

Average price during the week of February 12, 2018 $2.402

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

$2.344 Athens

$2.147 Chillicothe

$1.990 Columbiana

$2.262 East Liverpool

$2.234 Gallipolis

$2.234 Hillsboro

$2.240 Ironton

$2.237 Jackson

$2.073 Logan

$2.103 Marietta

$2.267 Portsmouth

$2.218 Steubenville

$2.296 Washington Court House

$2.345 Waverly

On the National Front

On the week, the national gas price average is two cents more expensive, landing at $2.28. At the start of the workweek, nearly half of all state averages also saw jumps – some at or more than a dime increase.

Frigid temperatures across much of the country have contributed toward a half a million barrel per day drop in demand to measure at 9 million barrels – a level consistent with a year ago according to the EIA. At the same time, gasoline stocks saw a nominal 513,000-barrel increase for a total of 257.8 million barrels. While demand is mostly flat year-over-year, total stocks sit at a 124-million-barrel surplus.

Crude oil has remained relatively cheap since the beginning of the year, moving between $51- $55 per barrel. At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI increased eight cents to settle at $52.72. Oil prices were volatile last week, following the release of new data from the EIA showing that at the end of the previous week, total domestic crude oil inventories rose less than expected – a build of only 1.3 million barrels to total 447.2 million.

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.