By DAVID BEASLEY via The Daily Signal | August 18, 2026
As the summer draws to a close, gas prices remain high across Ohio, with consumers paying more than a dollar more per gallon than they were a year ago.
At the same time, prices are rising across the country, topping $4 a gallon for the national average, also more than a dollar from a year ago.
“Average gasoline prices climbed back above $4 per gallon over the last week, with prices rising in slightly more states than they fell, as rebounding oil prices driven by the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries kept upward pressure on the market,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at the website GasBuddy.
“While the seasonal transition to cheaper winter-blend gasoline in the coming month could bring some relief, the two dominant challenges facing motorists—the closed Strait and the ongoing refinery strikes—show no signs of resolving anytime soon. Until they do, the path for gas and diesel prices remains tilted to the upside.”
Ohio averages $4.18 a gallon, more than a dime higher than the national average of $4.07, and the state saw among the largest weekly leaps in the country, increasing by 32.8 cents a gallon.
A year ago, Ohioans were paying $3.05 a gallon.
Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama had the lowest averages, with California ($5.56), Hawaii ($5.43), and Washington with the highest.
The American Automobile Association had a similar outlook.
“Drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as earlier declines in crude oil prices filter through the market,” AAA spokeswoman Montrae Waiters said in a statement. “However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding global oil supplies could shift the trend and put upward pressure on gas prices in the coming weeks.”
David Beasley is a contributor to The Center Square.
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