Gas Prices Rise Across Ohio, Driven by Middle East Tensions

Gasoline prices have risen recently across several U.S. regions, including Colorado, Ohio, and nationally, with increases ranging from about 1 to 7 cents per gallon in the past week. In Colorado, average gas prices rose to about $3.00 per gallon, though prices remain lower than a year ago, with notable regional variation such as Aspen's higher rates nearing $4.80 per gallon. Ohio cities like Toledo, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland have also seen price increases, with averages around $3.03 to $3.10 per gallon, and some local prices varying significantly between stations. Analysts attribute the recent surge in oil and gasoline prices to escalating tensions and military actions between Israel and Iran, which have driven oil prices to multi-month highs. GasBuddy's petroleum analyst warns that these international conflicts could cause further modest increases in gas and diesel prices nationwide, potentially rising 10 to 20 cents for gasoline and 15 to 25 cents for diesel in the near term. Despite these rises, current prices remain generally lower than the same period last year, reflecting a complex interplay of market dynamics and geopolitical risks.