Columbus gas prices tumble just before Labor Day weekend

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Gas prices in the Columbus area took a tumble last week, nearly doubling the previous week’s decline, to total over 27 cents in two weeks heading into Labor Day weekend.

After prices dipped by over nine cents the previous week, the cost of a gallon of gasoline dropped by 18.1 cents last week, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations, making the average price in the Columbus area $3.27.

The current price is 35.9 cents per gallon lower than one month ago and 24.3 cents lower per gallon than this time one year ago. In Ohio, the average price of gas also dropped by 17.1 cents per gallon, from $3.37 per gallon to $3.20 per gallon.

The cheapest gas station in the Columbus area was priced at $2.75 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.69, a difference of 94 cents per gallon.

Nationally, gas prices also experienced a drop of 6.2 cents per gallon to reach $3.30, while the price of diesel continues to hit new lows since January 2022, settling at $3.67 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan, prices could continue to fade after the busy travel weekend ahead.

"It seems fitting that, in the run-up to Labor Day, the national average has fallen for four straight weeks to its lowest point since February, giving Americans one last chance to hit the road with gas prices being less of a factor," said De Haan. “These numbers will continue to look better every week as we move into fall.”