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Gas prices spike in Northeast Ohio as Middle East conflict continues

By Staff Report
Gas prices in Northeast Ohio rose 54¢ to $3.443/gal as crude tops $100 a barrel amid Middle East conflict; spring demand and summer-blend production add pressure.
Gas prices in Northeast Ohio rose 54¢ to $3.443/gal as crude tops $100 a barrel amid Middle East conflict; spring demand and summer-blend production add pressure. Tom Merton Getty Images

Gas prices are 54 cents higher in Northeast Ohio this week at $3.443 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Nationwide Trends

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 48 cents over the past week to $3.47 – the highest since summer of 2024. The conflict in the Middle East is causing crude oil prices to rise to over $100 per barrel for the first time since summer of 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. The price of crude oil accounts for 50 to 60% of the cost of a gallon of gasoline, so when the price of crude oil rises, gasoline prices do the same.

Springtime also typically sees higher gas prices as gasoline demand rises and summer-blend gasoline production begins. Current gas prices are on track to match spring break prices of 2024. Today’s national average is 57 cents higher than a month ago and 39 cents higher than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.73 million barrels per day to 8.29 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 254.8 million barrels to 253.1 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.

As of Monday morning, West Texas Intermediate is trading at more than $100 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 439.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same at 39 cents.

Northeast Ohio Averages

Today $3.443

One Week Ago $2.907

One Year Ago $2.928

Record Price Date 6/13/2022

Record Price $5.036

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline today in various areas $3.474 Alliance $3.481 Ashland $3.454 Ashtabula $3.499 Aurora $3.465 Chesterland $3.389 Cleveland $3.403 Elyria $3.442 Independence $3.291 Lorain $3.404 Lyndhurst $3.478 Massillon $3.416 Mentor $3.477 New Philadelphia $3.411 Niles $3.496 Norwalk $3.484 Oberlin $3.405 Parma $3.475 Ravenna $3.489 Solon $3.499 Willard $3.371 Youngstown

Quick Gas and Electricity Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.81), Washington ($4.44), Hawaii ($4.43), Oregon ($4.04), Nevada ($3.87), Alaska ($3.72), Arizona ($3.58), Illinois ($3.36), Pennsylvania ($3.35), and Michigan ($3.27).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.79), Mississippi ($2.81), Kansas ($2.83), Tennessee ($2.84), Texas ($2.87), Arkansas ($2.90), Louisiana ($2.90), Wyoming ($2.90), North Dakota ($2.91), and Missouri ($2.92).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (52 cents), Hawaii (50 cents), Alaska (48 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), South Carolina (44 cents), New Hampshire (44 cents), New Jersey (43 cents), California (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), and Tennessee (41 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (25 cents), Wyoming (27 cents), Missouri (28 cents), Nebraska (30 cents), Utah (31 cents), Iowa (32 cents), Vermont (32 cents), Maryland (33 cents), New Mexico (33 cents), and Colorado (34 cents).