The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Area gasoline prices offer some relief

Lebanon racetrack questions new plan
11:16 p.m.
Court news: See who was indicted from your neighborhood
11:09 p.m.
State group pushing to revamp top county jobs
10:41 p.m.
Liz Claiborne distribution center to close Sept. 1
10:37 p.m.
Kings Island to fill 4,000 summer jobs
9:16 p.m.
> More headlines

By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 11:58 AM Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Ohio is boasting some of the lowest fuel prices in the country, with area prices dropping below $1.80 for a regular gallon of gas. And experts say prices will stay low through the summer.

The state’s average price has dropped 8 cents to $1.97 per gallon since last week, ranking it 15th in the country for lowest prices. Wyoming has the lowest average price at $1.869, according to a survey from AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Stations in Butler and Warren counties are posting an average of $1.92 per gallon, with prices at or below $1.77 in Franklin, Hamilton and Liberty Twp., according to cincygasprices.com.

Johnny Gonzalez, 84, of Hamilton, said he could remember filling his car up with a dollar “and having change left over.

“But recently, I can’t remember the last time it was this low. I’m counting my blessings,” he said.

A year ago, residents were paying $3.24 per gallon.

The federal Energy Information Administration said in its latest petroleum report that it “does not see gasoline prices climbing” to $3 a gallon this summer due to a surplus in refining capacity and lower demand.

Despite the lower prices, Americans are using 1.4 percent less fuel than at the same time in 2008, according to the agency.

Libby Harris, 48, of Middletown, said she was far from optimistic as she fueled up her Honda Civic at a Mobil station on Princeton Road.

“It’s a Catch-22 because as long as the prices keep coming down, that means the economy is, too,” she said. “We want to see it improve, that’s what all the stimulus is for. So if it works, bye-bye to (less than) $2 prices.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Share this article