Van Wert gasoline prices mostly decrease

VW independent/submitted information

Local gasoline prices were wide ranging on Sunday. Prices range from a low of $2.17 per gallon at the Murphy USA service station in the Towne Center shopping center to $2.39 per gallon at the Short Stop Sunoco station on East Main Street.

Other gasoline prices in Van Wert include the following: $2.18 per gallon at the Pak-A-Sak station on North Washington Street, $2.19 per gallon at the Shell station on South Washington Street, $2.20 per gallon at the Pak-A-Sak station on South Shannon Street and the One Stop Shop on North Washington, $2.25 at the Lassus Handy Dandy station on North Washington, and $2.27 at the Brookside convenience store on West Main Street.

Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio rose 9.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.38 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 increased 0.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.52 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Ohio during the past week, prices Sunday were 16.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 7.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 8.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 21 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“Despite the rough ride crude oil received in the latter half of last week, gasoline prices managed a rally, pushing the national average for the week into positive territory for the first time in a month,” said Dan McTeague, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “This confirmed what was noted here last week; March comes in like a lamb but goes out like a lion.

“Oil aside, there are early indications that gasoline prices are about to strengthen helped by a noticeable number of refineries out for maintenance and a stronger demand outlook than we saw last year,” McTeague added. “Geopolitics, trade skirmishes, growing fuel exports and the ever sensitive relationship between oil and the value of the greenback are all factors that are likely to help the gasoline bulls as temperatures and global political intrigue rise in apparent unison.”