Columbus gas prices drop a dime to start the summer season
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The average gas price in Columbus dropped by nearly a dime to kick off the first days of the 2024 summer.
According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in the Columbus area, the average gas price dropped by 9.7 cents per gallon to an average of $3.40. The recent decrease follows a one-week jump of 22 cents, but also marks the fourth decline over the past five weeks.
The current price is 16 cents per gallon lower than one month ago and 9.5 cents per gallon lower than this time one year ago. In Ohio, the average price of gas also dropped by 11.2 cents per gallon, from $3.45 per gallon to $3.34 per gallon.
The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $3.15 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.69, a difference of 54 cents per gallon. Nationally, gas prices inched up by 0.3 cents but remain at $3.41 per gallon.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said prices at the pump are expected to remain steady in the short term, but is hopeful more relief is on the way.
"With summer now officially here, we've seen the national average price of gasoline holding most steady compared to last week, with some states seeing their traditional price cycling every couple of weeks,” De Haan said. “For now, gasoline prices may see little movement ahead of July 4 as oil prices have risen above $80…. The decreases we hoped for will have to wait, thanks to oil's climb."