Gas prices surge again across Northeast Ohio to nearly $5 per gallon on Friday

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Drivers across Northeast Ohio have watched gas prices climb sharply over the past few days, and now most stations are nearly $5 per gallon.

On Friday, Ohioans woke up to gas prices that jumped again overnight, 37 cents more than Thursday, according to AAA.

AAA said the Ohio average gas price is now $4.83.

That’s 92 cents more than last week, and $1.06 more than last month!

Ohio is usually middle of the road when it comes to prices, but because of surges over the past week we have unfortunately climbed up the list.

The Buckeye State currently ranks 8th highest in the country for gas prices.

Analysts say relief may not be coming soon.

On top of the conflict in Iran sending oil prices higher, there was also a refinery issue at a plant in Indiana.

The BP plant in Whiting, Indiana had a temporary power problem, but as it’s one of the largest refineries in the country it sent prices higher.

“That’s because the Midwest is relatively isolated from other fuel supply centers. When a major refinery stumbles, there aren’t many quick alternatives—and prices react fast,” according to Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy.com.

“This is exactly what we’re seeing now:

• Sudden supply tightness
• Rapid wholesale price spikes
• Retail stations adjusting prices sharply higher

And because many stations refill tanks at higher costs, those increases cascade quickly to consumers,” De Haan advises.

At one Cleveland gas station on Wednesday, the price on the sign read $4.99, a number drivers say is becoming harder to avoid.

That number was the same at another Cleveland gas station on Friday morning.

Many people filling up Wednesday evening told 19 News they’re frustrated by the rapid increases.

“It’s crazy. Sooner or later, we’re going to be at like $5 or like $6,” one driver said.

Another driver added, “We’re getting gas now, but not here.”

According to AAA, the average price for gas in Ohio is $4.22 for regular fuel as of Wednesday. In Cleveland the average was $4.23.

One major factor: crude oil prices. Those prices are trading above $100 a barrel, which can raise the cost of gasoline.

“Crude oil is the main ingredient of gasoline,” said Jim Garrity, the director of public affairs for AAA east central. “So, when it goes up and down, even by a couple dollars here and there, that has an impact on the pump.”

Experts say the last time Ohio experienced prices this high was 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict pushed gas prices above $5 a gallon.

Garrity added even when the U.S. isn’t buying oil directly from certain countries, global events can still affect prices here.”

“Even though we’re not importing Iranian oil in America, it is a globally traded commodity,” Garrity said. “When you see an impact happen overseas well, that splash has ripples and those ripples make their way to us.”

When 19 News was at another Cleveland gas station, prices changed quickly: within about 30 minutes, the price jumped from $4.79 to $4.99. It cost us $30.55 for a little more than six gallons.

“The lady said they went up 70 cents,” another driver said. “She said it was $4.19 earlier, then it shot up to $4.79. Now it’s $4.99. I was going to get gas yesterday, but I forgot.”

One driver who uses premium gas said the surge hits even harder.

“It’s $4.99, I just texted my buddy yesterday, like oh it jumped 80 cents,” the driver said. “I’m glad I’ve got a company card, but this is my personal and I’ve got to spend almost $6 a gallon on gas because it’s premium.”

As for whether prices will drop soon, Garrity says it depends on what crude oil does next.

“What happens next remains to be seen with crude oil prices,” he said.

Garrity says a few options to say on gasoline is drive less or slow down.

“The faster you go, at AAA, we have found every roughly five miles over 50 an hour you’re going, you’re exponentially burning fuel less efficiently and that’s making you a less safe driver, but it’s also making your car work harder and burning fuel less efficiently,” Garrity said.