Gas surpasses $4 per gallon nationally

The national average cost for a gallon of gasoline surpassed $4 this week, the highest it's been since the summer of 2022. Both national and local gas prices continue to rise as hostilities with Iran continue. The national average on Tuesday was about $4.14 per gallon. "Crude oil prices have been surging, surpassing $100/barrel, as the conflict in the Middle East continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed," according to Lynda Lambert, a spokesperson for AAA East Central. "In 2022, gas prices remained elevated from March through August, peaking in June when the national average reached a record of $5/gallon for one week." Local costs among state's highest According to AAA, which tracks daily gas price data, the area has among the highest average gas prices in the state right now. On Tuesday, Erie County's average gas prices came in at about $3.97 per gallon, while Huron County followed close behind at $3.96. While a handful of Ohio counties joined them with average costs above $3.90, only two other counties in the state had a higher average price per gallon: Gallia County and Morgan County, both in the state's southeast and which both had a $3.98 average. Average prices-per-gallon locally, as of Tuesday: • Erie County: $3.97 (was $3.48 on March 9) • Huron County: $3.96 (was $3.49 on March 9) • Sandusky County: $3.87 (was $3.43 on March 9) • Ottawa County: $3.92 (was $3.42 on March 9) • Hancock County: $3.86 (was $3.44 on March 9) • Seneca County: $3.85 (was $3.45 on March 9) Several local municipalities also have their average per-gallon costs tracked by AAA, which reported costs above the regional and national average: • Norwalk: $3.90 (was $3.50 on March 9) • Willard: $3.81 (was $3.50 on March 9) Source: AAA