The average price of gasoline across South Central Ohio is five cents more expensive this week at $2.777 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

With a dime or more increase, Missouri (+12 cents) and Kansas (+10 cents) had the largest one week increases among all Great Lakes and Central states. Within the region, gas prices range from $2.94 in Illinois to $2.60 in Missouri. In Ohio, the statewide average for gasoline is two cents more expensive this week at $2.68.

Gasoline stocks have been consistently tightening in the Great Lakes and Central States since last January. At that time, stocks measured at 61.5 million barrels, but the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report shows total levels today at 52.2 million barrels. This – as well as regional refinery maintenance and the switchover to summer-blend gasoline – have caused pump prices to jump as much as 43-cents in the last month in the region.

This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $2.777

Average price during the week of April 8, 2019 $2.723

Average price during the week of April 16, 2018 $2.630

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

$2.858 Athens

$2.761 Chillicothe

$2.612 Columbiana

$2.651 East Liverpool

$2.812 Gallipolis

$2.808 Hillsboro

$2.744 Ironton

$2.836 Jackson

$2.797 Logan

$2.838 Marietta

$2.792 Portsmouth

$2.778 Steubenville

$2.790 Washington Court House

$2.801 Waverly

On the National Front

Pump prices on the West Coast increased as much as 20 cents this past week, driving the national average up nearly 10 cents to $2.83 on the week. As stocks tighten out West due to unplanned and planned maintenance, California’s average jumped to $4.00, the most expensive state average this week and a price point not seen in the Golden State since July 2014. Nationwide, as gasoline supplies decrease and demand measures at summer-levels, gas prices are also increasing throughout the rest of the country.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased 31 cents to settle at $63.89. Oil prices increased last week, and will likely continue their ascent this week, as a weaker dollar helped to push crude prices up because of the increased number of dollars needed to purchase crude on the global market. Another contributing factor to the price jumps came from reports that there was a 534,000-b/d decline in crude production by OPEC members in March. The news underscores that OPEC and its partners are making reductions in service consistent with their 1.2 million b/d production reduction agreement, which is in place through June.

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.