Recent gas-price hike in Columbus erased, national prices lowest non-COVID level since 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is at its lowest non-COVID level in nine years and a significant drop in Ohio helped push that average down.
According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in the Columbus area, the average price at the pump fell by 16.7 cents per gallon last week to once again drop below the $3 threshold at $2.91. The current price is 6.1 cents per gallon lower than last month but still 4.4 cents per gallon higher than this time one year ago.
The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.73 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.19, a difference of 46 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also dropped significantly by 17.4 cents from $3.00 per gallon to $2.82 per gallon, making it the 35th state in the country to boast sub-$3-per-gallon gas prices.
Nationally, gas prices dropped slightly, by 3.1 cents per gallon, to reach $2.97 even, making it the first time in over 1,300 days since the national average has been this low. It is also the lowest non-COVID prices have been since 2015. Likewise, the price of diesel fell by 2.3 cents, settling at $3.49 per gallon.
Do elections influence gas prices? Columbus motorists now paying under $3 per gallon
According to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan, who correctly predicted last week’s rise in fuel cost would soon fall, says falling prices at the pump should continue through the rest of the month.
"The national average has finally fallen below $3 per gallon, and it couldn't come at a better time for motorists with the holidays upon us,” De Haan said. “The good news is that we'll likely continue to see additional downward pressure on gas prices, with the national average potentially falling another 10 to 15 cents by Christmas."