Christmas gift arrives in northern Ohio in the form of lower gas prices at the pump
Instead of a lump coal this holiday season, motorists are getting an early Christmas present in the form of lower prices at the fuel pumps.
The price of a gallon of gas has been in a steady decline in recent weeks and this week reached a welcome milestone.
For the first time this year, the American Automobile Association's review of the national average price of a gallon of gas found that it dropped below the level of a year ago.
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The national average for a gallon of regular gas as of Thursday was $3.32 — below the average of $3.34 a gallon a year ago.
The news is good on the national level, but in Ohio the average as of Thursday was $3.16 a gallon — still above the average of $3.11 a gallon a year ago.
What's the price of gas in Akron?
Things are bit better in Greater Akron, where gas could be found on Thursday as low as $2.83 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.
The price of gas varies across the region, with $2.85 a gallon of regular gas found in Kent and $2.89 in Tallmadge.
Some stations in Cleveland were as low as $2.54 a gallon on Thursday, while many Canton stations were charging $2.89.
Stations in and around Mansfield were still above $3 a gallon.
Gas prices are expected to continue to decline through Christmas amid a weak demand for fuel worldwide and fears of economic slowdown.
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio gas prices drop in Akron area and across US