AKRON, Ohio — Ouch. Gas prices have seen a big spike throughout Northeast Ohio within the last week.
Drivers in Akron are now paying an average of $3.49 per gallon after prices jumped 24 cents, according to new data released early Monday by GasBuddy.
Prices in Cleveland have climbed 22.3 cents in the last week, bringing the city’s new average to $3.50 per gallon. This increase puts Cleveland’s gas prices 16.6 cents higher than a month ago, but 39.7 cents cheaper than a year ago.
LIST & MAP: Where to find the cheapest gas prices near you
The national average, meanwhile, is now listed at $3.72 after rising 16.5 cents.
"Gas prices suddenly soared over the last week due to heat-related refinery outages that impacted some of the largest refineries in the country, at a time when summer gasoline demand peaks and as gasoline inventories slid to their lowest July level since 2015," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "In addition, oil prices surged to their highest level in months, rising to over $80 per barrel due to SPR releases coming to an end and concerns over cuts in supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia, the second and third largest oil producers in the world. Motorists have seen average gasoline and diesel prices rise at the fastest pace in over a year, but the rise seen in the last week should now start slowing. However, as we get ever closer to the peak of hurricane season, any new issues could easily push the national average over $4 per gallon for the first time in 2023. Drivers may want to brace for potentially higher prices yet.”
Here’s a look at historical gasoline prices in Cleveland and the national average going back 10 years:
- July 31, 2022: $3.89/g (U.S. Average: $4.17/g)
- July 31, 2021: $2.99/g (U.S. Average: $3.16/g)
- July 31, 2020: $2.07/g (U.S. Average: $2.18/g)
- July 31, 2019: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $2.72/g)
- July 31, 2018: $2.76/g (U.S. Average: $2.87/g)
- July 31, 2017: $2.29/g (U.S. Average: $2.31/g)
- July 31, 2016: $2.03/g (U.S. Average: $2.13/g)
- July 31, 2015: $2.31/g (U.S. Average: $2.66/g)
- July 31, 2014: $3.44/g (U.S. Average: $3.51/g)
- July 31, 2013: $3.56/g (U.S. Average: $3.62/g)
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