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Ohio gasoline prices decrease this week

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Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 4.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.02 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.12 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Ohio during the past week, prices Sunday were 17.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 4.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 9.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 7.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

Gasoline price graphic 8-2012According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on November 28 in Ohio have ranged widely over the last five years: $1.84 per gallon in 2015, $2.81 per gallon in 2014, $3.19 per gallon in 2013, $3.47 per gallon in 2012 and $3.11 per gallon in 2011.

“Early last week WTI crude had climbed above $48 (per barrel) but was unable to hold on and in late trading Friday had slipped below $46,” said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “And that probably ties directly to doubts about Iraq, Iran, and the likelihood that Russia, the largest non-OPEC oil exporter, will agree only to a freeze and not a production cut of its own, which OPEC says is essential for the cartel to implement its plan to cut back by 1 million barrels per day.

Consequently, this week’s highly anticipated meeting among OPEC members Wednesday in Vienna could be anticlimactic and fortuitous for U.S. consumers if no agreement is reached.

“Prices at the pump generally fall in December,” Laskoski noted. “In the last four years we’ve seen the U.S. average price of gas increase just once in December.

“In December 2013 the national average ended the month 5 cents higher than when it started; and it’s also fallen precipitously,” he added. “In December 2014 the national average plummeted 51 cents per gallon, from $2.75 to $2.24.

“Over the past four years the average decline from December 1 to December 31 has been 15 cents per gallon and I’d have to think most of us would be pretty happy with that,” Laskoski said.

POSTED: 11/28/16 at 8:28 am. FILED UNDER: News