Salem gas prices lowest in Ohio

SALEM — Christmas presents came early for Salem area residents — gasoline prices that appear to be the lowest in the state.

Smith Oil on East State Street posted its lowest price in some time Tuesday — $2.71 a gallon.

“We’re swamped,” said Paula Crum, station manager.

Out-of-towners are among those filling up. Crum has spoken with numerous people from the Youngstown area and Pennsylvania who were driving through town and stopped when they saw the prices.

These people know a good deal when they see one.

Ohiogasprices.com lists Salem has having the lowest prices in the state. The Web site, which uses prices reported by drivers, lists five Salem stations as the only ones in the state to have prices under $2.80.

No other area stations were even close.

MSN Autos, which records credit card transactions at stations, listed prices in Boardman and Austintown Tuesday as ranging from $2.97 to $3.10.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.