City stations all have sub-$2/gallon gas

VW independent/gasoline price information

Perhaps the biggest gift motorists have been given this holiday season has been gasoline prices, which have fallen more than $1.50 per gallon since summer. On Sunday, every gasoline outlet in Van Wert was under $2 a gallon.

Local gasoline prices on Sunday ranged from a low of $1.79 a gallon to a high of $1.94 per gallon. It was the first time the city has seen sub-$2 a gallon gasoline in 5½ years — since mid-2009.

According to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com, average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 14.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.04 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with the national average, which has fallen 9.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.28 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Ohio during the past week, prices Sunday were 132.4 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 76.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 50.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 100.5 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“The dramatic decline at the pump continues to reap significant savings for the motoring public — over $525 million less spent every day versus this past summer, or $375 million less than the same time last year,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy. “The slump in crude oil has wavered slightly and we’re in the fourth quarter of the game. However, there is still a chance that crude prices resume their slump again, and carry the pump plunge into overtime,” DeHaan said.

Gas prices have fallen $1.85 a gallon in Michigan since June 28, the largest drop in the nation. Following close behind: Kentucky, down $1.66 per gallon; Indiana, down $1.62 a gallon; Ohio, down $1.61 per gallon; and Illinois, down $1.60 a gallon over the same time frame. More statistics can be found at media.gasbuddy.com.