A steady drop in gas prices the last few weeks ended Wednesday as some area stations increased prices by as much as 30 cents.

The increase was clearly evident shortly after 5 p.m. at Byers Road and Ohio 741 in Miamisburg, as BP was still offering $3.05 while a nearby Shell had increased to $3.35.

The 30 cent- increase that occurred today is part of the normal price cycling activity in the Great Lakes region, according to Patrick Dehaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com.

“It’s the pattern of the Great Lakes. Speedway is the reason for a lot of increases in this area, no matter what the wholesale prices are,” Dehaan said.

At 6:30 p.m., the cheapest gasoline, in a range of $2.91 to $2.96, was available in Huber Heights and North Dayton, according to DaytonGasPrices.com.