The average price of gasoline across South Central Ohio is 11 cents lower this week at $3.653 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: South Central Ohio Average: $3.653; Washington Court House Average: $3.721

Average price during the week of October 17, 2022 $3.765

Average price during the week of October 25, 2021 $3.216

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

$3.843 Athens

$3.790 Chillicothe

$3.452 Columbiana

$3.727 East Liverpool

$3.596 Gallipolis

$3.663 Hillsboro

$3.540 Ironton

$3.835 Jackson

$3.543 Logan

$3.556 Marietta

$3.486 Portsmouth

$3.719 Steubenville

$3.666 Waverly

Trend Analysis:

The national average pump price fell nine cents over the past week to hit $3.79. It has dropped daily since October 11, primarily due to lower oil prices and fewer drivers than usual fueling up. Today’s national average is nine cents higher than a month ago and 41 cents more than a year ago.

Global recession fears and the government’s plan to continue tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve into December have helped temper oil prices. While this announcement will help take some of the pressure off pump prices, the exact pricing impact remains uncertain.

According to recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly from 8.28 million barrels per day to 8.68 million barrels per day last week. Total domestic gasoline stocks decreased marginally from 209.5 million barrels to 209.4 million barrels. Although gasoline demand is up slightly, it remains nearly 1 million barrels lower than this date last year.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by 54 cents to settle at $85.05. Although crude prices increased after the EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude inventories dropped by 1.7 million barrels to 437.4 million barrels last week, the price of oil had declined earlier in the week due to ongoing market concerns about crude demand as recession fears increased.

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.