AAA: Ohio gas prices down 7 cents from last week

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio gasoline prices are down 7 cents from last week and have fallen more than 15 cents since the start of the year, mirroring a drop in oil prices.

A survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts the current statewide average for regular-grade gas at $2.51 per gallon, compared to last Monday’s $2.58. One month ago, on Jan. 1, the average was $2.67 a gallon around Ohio.

The cost of crude oil has slid more than 11 percent since the beginning of 2010 on signs that demand for energy remains weak.

A report last week from the Energy Information Administration said Americans are using less gasoline than they did a year ago.

Gas was cheaper last year at this time, when a gallon of regular cost an average $1.82 statewide.