Area gas prices Monday were up an average of almost 20 cents from September and up nearly 40 cents from October of last year.
Monday’s average price in the region for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.85, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. This is compared to average prices of $2.66 last week, $2.68 last month and $2.47 this time last year, according to AAA’s Report.
The average price for gasoline statewide Monday was $2.84, according to AAA, while the national average was $2.82.
Prices at Swifty Gas, 4845 Dixie Highway in Fairfield, was $2.87 Monday.
“I couldn’t image in 100 years it’d cost me $20 to mow my grass,” said Richard Kinney of Hamilton. He said two days ago he bought five gallons for $11.50. On Monday at Swifty it was $13.50.
The rise in gas prices is based largely on new companies buying up shares of crude oil futures, combined with a weak dollar, said Kimberly Schwind, a spokeswoman for AAA Ohio Auto Club. If the dollar is weaker in international currency markets, crude prices, which are measured in dollars, tend to increase.
“So it’s a trickle down effect,” Schwind said.
However, prices aren’t expected to make $3 a gallon by year’s end. She said prices likely will rise the first half of the month and eventually level off. Monday’s prices are the second highest of the year, with an area high of $2.90 reported in May, Schwind added.
That’s good news for Barb Robinson of Trenton, who was pumping gas Monday at Speedway near the intersection of Ohio 4 and Creekside Drive in Fairfield Twp. Robinson said she drives more than she used to for medical appointments for both her and her daughter.
“It hits me a lot more in the pocket than I like,” Robinson said. “Things are tight, everything’s more expensive.”
Gasoline also is a major expense for Butler County government, said Pete Landrum, office of management and budget director. The county has a fuel depot station for county vehicles, including the cruisers deputies drive. The county buys more than 8,000 gallons about twice a month, Landrum said, with a tank fill-up likely coming next week.
The 2010 general fund expense for gas and fuel was $490,000 and the nongeneral fund expense was more than $1.4 million, he said.
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