AKRON, Ohio — Ouch. After weeks with declining gas prices, drivers throughout Northeast Ohio are experiencing yet another financial pinch at the pump.
Akron gas prices have surged 33.2 cents per gallon within the last week as the city’s average now stands at $3.26, according to new data released by GasBuddy early Monday morning.
LIST & MAP: Where to find the cheapest gas prices near you
Cleveland saw gas prices jump 30.6 cents per gallon since last week as the average now climbs to $3.24 per gallon. That puts Cleveland’s gas prices at 3.7 cents more expensive than a month ago and 16.5 cents higher than a year ago.
The national average, meanwhile, also jumped 12.3 cents per gallon within the last week. The new average now stands at $3.17 per gallon.
"For the first time in two months, the nation's average price of gasoline rose sharply last week, as extremely cold weather led to many refinery issues, shutting down over a million barrels of refining capacity, pushing wholesale prices up," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "In addition, China's reopening plans gave markets inspiration that global oil demand will start to recover, as China's nearly three year Covid-zero policies appear to be coming to an end. While the jump at the pump will likely be temporary as most refiners get back online after cold-weather related issues, some regions like the Rockies may see more price increases than others as cold-weather shutdowns hit the region fairly hard, with one refinery likely remaining down through the first quarter of 2023. Most areas have seen the bulk of the rise already hit, but should oil continue to rally, more increases could be on the way."
See historical gasoline prices in Cleveland and the national average going back 10 years:
- January 2, 2022: $3.07/g (U.S. Average: $3.26/g)
- January 2, 2021: $2.14/g (U.S. Average: $2.25/g)
- January 2, 2020: $2.58/g (U.S. Average: $2.59/g)
- January 2, 2019: $1.94/g (U.S. Average: $2.25/g)
- January 2, 2018: $2.43/g (U.S. Average: $2.49/g)
- January 2, 2017: $2.30/g (U.S. Average: $2.34/g)
- January 2, 2016: $1.91/g (U.S. Average: $1.99/g)
- January 2, 2015: $1.99/g (U.S. Average: $2.21/g)
- January 2, 2014: $3.37/g (U.S. Average: $3.32/g)
- January 2, 2013: $3.29/g (U.S. Average: $3.28/g)
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated story on Jan. 1, 2023.