AAA: Ohio gas prices fall

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The average price of gasoline across South Central Ohio is 19 cents cheaper this week at $2.070 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Some of the largest weekly pump price savings in the country can be found in the Great Lakes and Central states this week. Eight out of the top 10 largest weekly decreases are states from the region: Ohio (-27 cents), Kentucky (-21 cents), Michigan (-21 cents), Wisconsin (-21 cents), Indiana (-19 cents), Illinois (-19 cents), Iowa (-15 cents) and Minnesota (-15 cents). All states in the region saw double-digit decreases, with South Dakota (-10 cents) seeing the smallest decrease on the week.

With a decrease of 1.8 million barrels, the region saw its first substantial drop in gasoline stocks in two months, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest report. At 58 million barrels, stock levels remain healthy and in line with levels this time last year. If stocks were to decrease again in the coming week that would traditionally mean a pump price increase, but given the current trend with oil prices, it’s possible prices could continue to decrease.

This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $2.070

Average price during the week of March 9, 2020 $2.261

Average price during the week of March 18, 2019 $2.452

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

$2.265 Athens

$1.924 Chillicothe

$1.928 Columbiana

$2.020 East Liverpool

$2.137 Gallipolis

$2.105 Hillsboro

$2.037 Ironton

$1.795 Jackson

$2.089 Logan

$2.298 Marietta

$2.194 Portsmouth

$2.034 Steubenville

$2.014 Washington Court House

$2.134 Waverly

On the National Front

As crude oil prices trending slightly below $30/barrel today, Americans are seeing pump prices plummet across the country. On the week, gas price averages in 35 states decreased by double-digits, pushing the national average to $2.25, the cheapest price point of the year. AAA expects gas prices to continue trending cheaper, with a chance of the national average nearing $2/gallon.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased by 23 cents to settle at $31.73. Fears about COVID-19 and the crude price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia pushed prices lower last week. After President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Energy would purchase oil to top off the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, crude prices rallied briefly. However, the announcement is unlikely to help increase crude prices further since the limited number of barrels the U.S. could purchase is small when compared to the dramatic reduction in global crude demand.

Moving into this week, crude prices are likely to continue decreasing as the world grapples with how to contain the ongoing international public health crisis and associated economic challenges that could lead to a global recession. Until the price war ends and fears about COVID-19 subside, domestic crude prices are likely to remain low.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 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.

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