CINCINNATI — Cincinnati-area drivers saw a sharp spike in gas prices as they headed out to work, with regular unleaded climbing to around $4.79 a gallon at multiple local stations — one day after prices jumped to over $4 for the first time in three years.
We found $4.27, $4.79 and $4.99 prices at several Speedway, Shell, BP and Kroger stations throughout southwest Ohio. Find the best gas prices near you here.
In Northern Kentucky, prices were a bit lower, but drivers in Erlanger and Hebron were paying $4.19 a gallon at several stations.
WCPO spoke to Jada Hill, a driver filling up at a Shell station near the airport, on Tuesday.
"Gas is expensive, food's expensive, rent is expensive, so with the gas prices skyrocketing like that, it's not good for the economy, not good," Hill said.
At the BP in Norwood, we spoke to Roberto Hernandez.
"I used to fill my tank with $60, now it’s like $100. It's a big difference," Hernandez said.
AAA reports that the average Ohio gas price is now $4.07 a gallon, below the national average of $4.16, but still a significant jump that is bound to impact consumers.
The surge follows news over the weekend that no new US-Iran talks are scheduled, and that the Strait of Hormuz (where 20% of the world's oil passes through) remains shut, as it has been for over a month.
The result was another 5% increase in crude oil since the weekend, with prices now over $100 a barrel.
We spoke with the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, Patrick Dehaan, who said the pain may not be over yet.
Dehaan said more hikes could be coming, predicting the national average could reach $4.25 to $4.40 a gallon if nothing changes, and the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen soon.
Gas prices are now up well over a dollar since the Iran war began, with Cincinnati-area prices averaging $2.79 a gallon in mid-February.
We will update this story as it develops today. Click here to check gas prices near you.
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