Will the rise in Columbus gas prices continue?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Gas prices saw a slight increase last week, but generally remained steady in the Columbus area - for now.
After prices dropped by a dime the previous week, gas prices in Columbus rose slightly by 3.0 cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations. That current price is 50.4 cents higher than one month ago, but still 41.7 cents per gallon lower than this time one year ago.
The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.84 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.20, a difference of 36 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas is also down from one week ago, averaging out at $3.01, up 4.5 cents, while nationally, gas prices rose by 4.3 cents to $3.12 per gallon.
According to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, predicts that any future drops in prices, if any, will be followed by larger increases as spring approaches.
“We could see a brief 'clearance sale' on remaining winter gasoline in some pockets of interior states as refiners start to move these time-sensitive barrels out of the system,” De Haan said. “(But) motorists shouldn't be fooled into thinking any drop in prices is a long-term trend, but rather a very short term one. I expect any modest and temporary drops in prices will be replaced by pricier gasoline as we get closer to the start of spring."