Gas continues to rise


March 13, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Gas continues to rise

YOUNGSTOWN

Gasoline prices in Ohio have risen for the fourth-straight week and are up more than a dime compared with a week ago.

The average price for regular gas is $3.85 a gallon in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s up 11 cents from last Monday, when the average was $3.74.

In Youngstown, the average for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline is now $3.80, up from $3.78 a week ago.

Ohio drivers paid about $3.56 at this time last year as prices climbed toward the $4 mark on the way to record highs.

Feds probe sticky throttles in Fords

DETROIT

Federal safety regulators have launched an investigation into sticky accelerators in more than 1.9 million Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans.

The probe includes cars from the 2001 through 2006 model years. The Taurus and Sable are nearly identical.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received at least 14 complaints about the problem. No crashes or injuries have been reported.

But drivers have said it was difficult to stop the car. Several said they had to shut off the engine or shift into neutral in order to stop. At least two ran red lights before they could bring the cars under control.

From staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 22.31 .09

Avalon Holdings,3.67.06

Clear Channel, .77 71.37 .19

Cortland Bancorp, 7.41—.09

Farmers Nat., .125.55 —.05

First Energy, 2.20, 45.12.41

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.41 —.04

First Niles Financial, .32,8.00.00

First Place Fin., .92.01

FNB Corp., .48,11.85.07

General Motors,25.39—.23

General Electric, .68,19.13.09

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 5.81—.05

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,40.54—.49

Key Corp, .12,7.88—.14

LaFarge, 11.39 —.08

Macy’s, .80, 39.58—.09

Parker Hannifin, 1.56, 89.13.91

PNC, 1.40,59.50.10

RTI Intl. Metals,22.40—.34

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.80,139.152.70

Stoneridge 10.12 —.08

United Community Fin. 1.48.03

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Monday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.