COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus gas prices have fallen for the fourth time in the past five weeks, totaling 31 cents per gallon since mid-January. That trend, however, may not last much longer.
According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in the Columbus area, the average price at the pump fell by 8.7 cents per gallon last week to reach $2.84, which is 24 cents-per-gallon lower than the national average. The current price is 21.2 cents per gallon lower than four weeks ago and 38.7 cents lower than this time one year ago.
The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.36 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.29, a difference of 93 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also dropped by 13.8 cents from $3.00 per gallon to $2.86 per gallon
Nationally, gas prices also fell slightly, by 3.8 cents per gallon, to reach $3.08. The price of diesel, however, dipped higher by 1.6 cents, settling at $3.65 per gallon.
Head of petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said while most areas across the county are experiencing stability or even slight declines, the seasonal transition in oil prices has yet to impact motorists, at least not yet.
“As we inch closer to (Spring), the typical March madness will eventually take hold, so motorists may want to enjoy the slight decline while it lasts,” De Haan said. “While I don’t see an abrupt spike in the national average just yet, we’re likely to see upward movement in the weeks ahead.”
