Christmas gift arrives in northern Ohio in the form of lower gas prices at the pump

Experts say gas prices, like this at the Meijer in Brimfield Township, are expected to continue to fall through Christmas.
Experts say gas prices, like this at the Meijer in Brimfield Township, are expected to continue to fall through Christmas.

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.

This chart from the American Automobile Association charts the price of gas in Ohio and nationally.
This chart from the American Automobile Association charts the price of gas in Ohio and nationally.

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