FILL ’ER UP

Ohio makes top 10 list of least expensive states for gas prices

“It’s a lot better than when it was $4 a gallon. It fluctuates so much it’s hard to do or plan anything.” — Dan Smith, Mentor resident

There’s good news for motorists as the American Automobile Association is seeing gas prices at a national average are approximately 12 cents less per gallon going into the pre-July 4th weekend than they were during the Memorial Day Weekend.

Although the pre-holiday weekend prices may be down slightly, commuters such as Kevin Fumerola of Johnston Township in Trumbull County have still felt the burn of the price increases since the beginning of the year.

Fumerola, who averages 1,500 miles a week transporting a work crew in a large

pick-up truck daily from Middlefield to Cleveland, says the cost of his commute has almost doubled.

“I don’t like anything about the gas prices,” he said.

Fumerola used to spend about $35 to $40 a day on gas now it’s almost $70 to $80 a day.

The AAA website reports the national average of $2.85 per gallon is about 5 cents cheaper than it was a little more than a week ago and 12 cents less than what it was a month ago. But it is still 58 cents more a gallon then what it was at this time last year.

The organization also reports that 49 states have seen a price drop, and Ohio and Indiana have seen a double-digit decrease.

Bill Neely of Willoughby Hills thinks the price of gas is terrible and he believes OPEC’s announcement that it is increasing the production of oil should mean motorists should see a decrease at the pump.

Dan Smith of Mentor thinks the current prices are pretty good and really has no complaints. He currently drives a pick-up truck, but based on the price of gas and the amount of miles he drives in his daily commute from Mentor to Bay Village, he is looking into the purchase of a smaller more fuel efficient car.

“It’s a lot better than when it was $4 a gallon,” Smith said. “It fluctuates so much it’s hard to do or plan anything.”

Smith and Neely both take advantage of the fuel perks and discounts offered by gas stations and various stores to save money when buying gas.

Bill Kole of Spokane, Washington, has been traveling the New England states in a motor home and he was surprised at the cost when he stopped in Willoughby.

“Gas prices are terrible, but it’s cheaper here than most places I have been to over the past couple of months,” Kole said.

“I paid up to $3.50 a gallon in some places, and that’s for diesel.”

Diesel fuel typically cost more than gasoline.

AAA has listed Ohio in the No. 1 spot on its top 10 list for largest weekly price changes. Prices on June 18 showed a decrease throughout the state of nine cents.

The organization has also listed Ohio in the ninth spot on the their list of the nation’s top ten least expensive markets for purchasing gas with a statewide average price of $2.61 as of June 18. Additionally, Ohio made the list for the largest weekly decrease in the Great Lakes and Central regions.

“Not only are motorists in Ohio and Indiana seeing large declines in the last seven days, but gas prices are 30 cents and 26 cents cheaper, respectively, compared to last month,” the AAA report said. “In fact, these two states and Michigan (minus 24-cents) lead the country in biggest month-over-month decreases.”

The AAA issued a report based on OPEC’s announcement that the cartel will be increasing production by 1 million barrels per day during the second half of 2018, but speculate that number may be closer to 600,000 barrels per day, and that this increase in production should result in a decrease in crude prices resulting in the price of gas to be driven down later this year.

“The OPEC production increase will help to offset concerns of shrinking global supply caused by higher global demand this year,” AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano said in the June 25 report. “For drivers in the U.S., pump prices likely will not see an impact immediately. Changes, and most likely not drastic ones, are anticipated to hit pump prices late summer or early fall.”

“Not only are motorists in Ohio and Indiana seeing large declines in the last seven days, but gas prices are 30 cents and 26 cents cheaper, respectively, compared to last month. In fact, these two states and Michigan (minus 24-cents) lead the country in biggest month-over-month decreases.” — AAA report

KRISTI GARABRANDT — THE NEWS-HERALD Bill Kole of Spokane Washington was surprised to find what he considers to be cheap gas prices in Ohio when he stopped in Willoughby on June 27, to fill up his motor home after traveling the New England states where gas prices are much higher.

GRAPHIC BY KAILEE LEONARD