As Israel-Iran war intensifies, central Ohio gas prices continue to climb
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As attacks on Iran and Israel intensify, combined with the United States involvement in the conflict, Columbus gas prices are on the rise.
For the third week in a row, central Ohio gas prices have increased, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus. Compared to last week, the average price at the pump increased by 8 cents to reach $3.18 per gallon. The current price is 6.8 cents higher from four weeks ago but remains 21.6 cents lower than this time one year ago.
The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.54 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.29, a difference of 75 cents per gallon. In Ohio, the average price of gas also rose by 10.2 cents from $3.05 per gallon to $3.15 per gallon.
Nationally, gas prices rose by 9.7 cents per gallon to reach $3.18. The price of diesel followed suit and then some, jumping 16.1 cents, the largest increase since Aug. 2023, settling in at $3.65 per gallon.
While gas prices typically experience a drop after a price-cycling week, the conflict in the Middle East could potentially cause prices to increase even further, according to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan.
"Few pumps have been immune, with nearly all states seeing gas prices rise over the last week. Now, with the U.S. launching attacks on Iran, oil prices are likely to continue trending higher,” De Haan said. “These forecasts remain fluid and could shift quickly depending on global developments.”