Gas prices rise more than 50 cents

The cost of a gallon of gasoline is more than 50 cents higher than it was last week in northeast Ohio. It reflects a continuing trend of rising costs of crude oil — which directly impacts the price at the pump — largely attributed to the U.S.-Iran conflict in the Middle East. "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," said Lynda Lambert, a spokesperson for AAA East Central. "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." Northeast Ohio's average price per gallon of regular gas was $3.44 on Monday, while the national average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.47. The latter national average represents the highest cost in the U.S. since the summer of 2024, according to AAA. Average prices-per-gallon by county, as of Monday: • Seneca County: $3.45 • Erie County: $3.48 (was $3.16 last Wednesday) • Huron County: $3.49 (was $3.17 last Wednesday) • Sandusky County: $3.43 (was $3.07 last Wednesday) • Ottawa County: $3.42 (was $3.14 last Wednesday) • Hancock County: $3.44 Several local municipalities also have their average per-gallon costs tracked by AAA, which reported costs above the regional and national average: • Norwalk: $3.50 • Willard: $3.50