This photo shows the cost of a gallon of gas Thursday morning at Speedway in Hillsboro.
Jacob Clary | The Times-Gazette
Gas prices both nationally and statewide have finally started to see declines in the last few weeks after many consistent increases, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
In Hillsboro, gas prices on Thursday were as low as $3.35 whereas only a month-and-a-half ago they were as high as $3.75 per gallon.
This decline was first reported on May 9, in a AAA release when oil costs went below $80s per barrel, with one other cause being stated as gas demand related.
In the latest AAA release posted Thursday, that same reasoning was echoed, as falling oil prices and “tepid” demand were described as why national gas prices fell by a nickel week-over-week.
“Gas prices will likely keep up this slow sag now that we are past the Memorial Day travel weekend and more locations, east of the Rockies, will be selling gas below $3 a gallon,” Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said. “But it’s time to start weather watching as the Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1st, and forecasters predict it will be very active. A storm impacting the Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers could push prices temporarily higher, so stay tuned.”
That continued fall has been seen statewide and nationwide, according to AAA.
AAA said Ohio had the 29th highest gas price of all of the states in the country plus Washington, D.C. The site said Ohio’s average price per gallon was $3.440 as of Thursday. That is a significant fall from one week ago when the average price per gallon was $3.560, according to AAA.
AAA statistics for the national gas prices, showed that the price was $3.569 across the country, with that average down from $3.615 last week and also down from $3.657 at this time last month.
The lowest area gas prices, according to GasBuddy on Monday, were:
* Chillicothe — The lowest price was $3.31 at Murphy USA.
* Greenfield — The lowest price was $3.29 at Marathon.
* Hillsboro — The lowest price was $3.35 at Murphy USA.
* Mount Orab — The lowest price was $3.49 at multiple places.
* Wilmington — The lowest price was $3.26 Marathon.
Reach Jacob Clary at 937-402-2570.
